“The Arrival of travellers (Illustration for “The Misfortunes of the Immortals”)” is a collage and gouache piece on paper created by Max Ernst in 1922 in Cologne, Germany. Belonging to the Surrealism movement, this illustration measures 14 x 11 cm and is part of the series “The Misfortunes of the Immortals”. The artwork is privately held in a collection.
The artwork presents a surreal, dream-like scene featuring three figures in a desolate landscape. The figures exhibit bizarre, distorted human-animal hybrid forms, characteristic of Max Ernst’s unique style. One figure, with a tall, elongated bird-like head, appears to bend towards the ground in an awkward pose. Another figure, with what seems to be a lobster-like appendage atop its head, stands with an air of solemnity, dressed in a suit with a tie. In the background, an abstract architectural structure rises, adding to the fantastical ambiance. The use of gouache in soft hues and the collage technique imbues the scene with a whimsical yet uncanny atmosphere, as is typical of Surrealist compositions.
