The artwork titled “Commonplaces – Girls, Death and Devil” by Max Ernst, created in 1971 in Paris, France, is a collage on paper. This piece is representative of the Surrealism art movement and belongs to the genre of symbolic painting. It is part of the “Commonplaces” series by the artist.
The artwork is vibrantly detailed, featuring a juxtaposition of posters, travel schedules, and various objects. On the left side, vibrant posters of dancers are exhibited, displaying a lively milieu. The center introduces surreal elements, a large flower stem adorned with an insect, and a spider on a leaf, set against a distant view seen through a frame. The right side continues the visual narrative with more floral imagery and additional posters. At the bottom, assorted luggage and a book are placed, suggesting a sense of journey or exploration. The interplay of disparate elements creates a symbolic tableau, invoking themes of travel, nature, and life’s complex intersections.
