“Barbarians Marching to the West,” created by Max Ernst in 1937 in Paris, France, is a symbolic painting executed in oil and paper. This work exemplifies the Surrealism art movement and is currently exhibited at the Kunsthalle Hamburg in Hamburg, Germany. The dimensions of the artwork are 24 x 33 cm.
The artwork features abstract, fantastical figures set against a stark, yet vividly painted backdrop. It portrays two dominant, bird-like creatures in animated postures, suggestive of movement and possibly conflict or engagement. The use of dark, textured patterns on the birds against a contrasting light sky enhances the sense of otherworldliness and dynamism, consistent with Ernst’s surrealistic style. The figures appear to be traversing a rugged landscape, further accentuating the theme of a march. The overall composition, with its symbolic and mythical elements, invites contemplation on themes of power, movement, and the uncanniness of the fantastical beings.
