Max Ernst.

Max Ernst was a painter, sculptor and printmaker who was one of the leading Surrealists and was also a pioneer of Dada. He was a soldier in World War 1 and was traumatized by this time. These themes of his vision of the modern world being irrational became the basis of his artwork. The subject of his work also included his personal traumas. This style to paint from the sub conscious was the basis of his Surrealists works and this then influenced the Abstract Expressionists. He was inspired by the paintings of Giorgio de Chirico. He was also interested in the art of the mentally ill.   After constantly experimenting Ernst invented the technique known as frottage. His work links to the theme of exquisite corpse because he looks at juxtaposed imagery.