“The Angel of Hearth and Home” is an oil on canvas painting created by Max Ernst in 1937 in Paris, France. Measuring 53 x 73 cm, this artwork belongs to the Surrealism movement and serves as a symbolic painting. The artwork is housed in the Neue Pinakothek museum in Munich, Germany.
The artwork depicts an eerily surreal scene with a grotesque, hybrid figure in the foreground that appears to be in motion. This central figure, characterized by its distorted, angular limbs and grimacing face, is adorned with a striking red cloak. In contrast, a smaller, pale, and equally distorted figure is positioned to the left, seemingly interacting with the dominant figure. The background is comprised of a muted, expansive sky with shades of blue and gray, emphasizing the dreamlike and unsettling atmosphere. Ernst’s mastery in blending fantastical elements with symbolic meaning is evident, creating a visual narrative that invites contemplation on the themes of domesticity and protection as suggested by the artwork’s title.
