Created by Max Ernst, “The Fall of an Angel” is a symbolic painting executed in a collage and oil medium on paper. Measuring 44 x 34 cm, this piece is part of the Dada art movement and currently resides in a private collection.
The artwork features a scene composed of intersecting vertical lines, creating a textured backdrop. Dominating the composition is a circular motif in the lower section, wherein an angelic figure appears to be in freefall. Another circular form, edged with a vivid red and blue striped border, contains an abstract blue shape against a pale background near the upper right quadrant. Above the striped plane, the sky is portrayed in soft blue tones, subtly punctuated by ethereal, wing-like forms, further reinforcing the symbolic narrative of an angel’s descent. Ernst’s utilization of surreal elements and the juxtaposition of geometric patterns against organic forms embodies the distinctive characteristics of the Dada movement, inviting viewers to ponder the symbolic implications of the angel’s fall.
