“Dada-Gauguin” is a symbolic painting created by Max Ernst in 1920, in Cologne, Germany. Crafted with gouache and ink on paper, the artwork aligns with the Dada art movement. The dimensions of the painting are 30.3 x 40 cm. This piece is housed at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
The artwork depicts a surreal and enigmatic scene using symbolic figures and elements typical of Ernst’s distinctive style. Prominent in the composition are abstract, humanoid figures rendered in red, placed against a setting that merges organic and mechanical forms. The background is a blend of blue sky and a textured, possibly earth-like plane, infused with various abstract symbols and patterns. The juxtaposition of disparate objects, such as the plant-like formations and the obscure, elongated shape in the center, exemplifies the Dada movement’s anti-art ethos, challenging conventional aesthetics and provoking contemplation and interpretation.
