Max Ernst and Alchemy : A Magician in Search of Myth (Surrealist Revolution)

337 Pages·2001·7.91 MB·English

by  M. E. Warlick

Max Ernst and Alchemy
The Surrealist Revolution Series
Franklin Rosemont, Editor
A renowned current in poetry and the arts, surrealism has also influenced
psychoanalysis, anthropology, critical theory, politics, humor, popular cul-
ture, and everyday life. Illuminating its diversity and actuality, the Surreal-
ist Revolution Series focuses on translations of original writings by partici-
pants in the international surrealist movement and on critical studies of
unexamined aspects of its development.
Max Ernst
and Alchemy
A Magician in Search of Myth
M. E. Warlick
Foreword by Franklin Rosemont
university of texas press, austin
Copyright © 2001 by the University of Texas Press
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
First edition, 2001
Requests for permission to reproduce material from this work should be sent to
Permissions, University of Texas Press, Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819.
(cid:1)(cid:1) The paper used in this book meets the minimum requirements of ansi/niso
z39.48-1992 (r1997) (Permanence of Paper).
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Warlick, M. E.
Max Ernst and alchemy : a magician in search of myth / M. E. Warlick ;
foreword by Franklin Rosemont.— 1st ed. p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
isbn0-292-79135-6 (hardcover : alk. paper) —
isbn0-292-79136-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Ernst, Max, 1891–1976—Criticism and interpretation.
2. Surrealism—France. 3. Dadaism—France. 4. Alchemy in art.
5. Occultism in art. I. Title.
n6888 .e7 w37 2001
709(cid:2).2—dc21 00-010616
Publication of this book was supported by a grant from the Sid Richardson
Foundation.
Design by José Clemente Orozco.
To my parents,
Bill and Lauretta Warlick
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Contents
foreword by franklin rosemont
xiii
acknowledgments
xxiii
introduction 1
1. the myth of the child 7
2. alchemy: its history, revival, and symbolism 18
3. initiation 34
4. the occultation of surrealism 61
5. collage as alchemy 105
6. the alchemical androgyne: ernst
and the women in his life 136
7. as above, so below: the alchemical landscapes 184
conclusion 215
notes 219
an alchemical glossary 261
selected bibliography 269
index 289
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Figures
1.1. Opening lines, “Some Data on the Youth of M. E., As Told by
Himself” 10
1.2. Max Ernst’s horoscope 11
1.3. Athanor and alchemical animals 12
2.1. Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Alchemist 21
2.2. Two versions of “St. Marcel”; Basil Valentine’s Synthesis of the Work
from the Twelve Keys 31
3.1. Rebis,from Herbert Silberer, Probleme der Mystik und Ihrer Symbolik 46
3.2. Max Ernst, Winter Landscape: Carburation of the Vulcanized Iron Bride for the
Purpose of Producing the Necessary Warming of the Bed 48
3.3. Kölner Lehrmittelkatalog, source for Winter Landscape 49
3.4. Max Ernst, Dada Gauguin 51
3.5. Petrus Bonus and Janus Lacinius, Pretiosa Margarita Novella 53
3.6. Max Ernst, Untitled (Men Shall Never Know It) 54
3.7. Max Ernst, The Scissors and Their Father 59
4.1. Max Ernst, Rendezvous of Friends 67
4.2. Housebook Master, “The Children of Mercury” 69
4.3. Martin van Heemskerck, The Children of Mercury 70
4.4. Max Ernst, Men Shall Know Nothing of This 73
4.5. Anonymous, General Theory of Eclipses 74
4.6. Alchemical engraving from Herbert Silberer, Probleme der Mystik und
ihrer Symbolik 76
ix