“Day and Night,” an oil painting on canvas created by Max Ernst around 1941 in the United States, is a notable example of the Surrealism art movement. Measuring 112 by 146 centimeters, the symbolic painting currently resides in a private collection.
The artwork presents a complex visual experience, characterized by an assemblage of fragmented, frame-like rectangles overlapping and interacting with one another. Each rectangle within the composition reveals glimpses of abstract textures and enigmatic forms, set against a predominantly dark background. The juxtapositions of these frames suggest varying perspectives and moments captured in time, invoking a sense of both day and night through subtle changes in their contained imagery. The surreal landscape, fragmented yet cohesive, evokes a dreamlike state, a central tenet of Surrealist philosophy. The intriguing and mysterious quality of the artwork invites viewers to delve into the deeper, symbolic meanings hidden within the interplay of light, shadow, and form.
