**Originally Listed At $800**

Andre Masson (French, 1896-1987). Untitled lithograph. Hand signed and numbered 3/25 in pencil below the image, ca. 1930. A mesmerizing lithograph by Andre Masson, one of the pioneers of the Surrealist movement! The abstract composition features architectural structures, perhaps ruins, as well as flames, and is a wonderful example of Masson's automatic drawing technique. Masson, who is generally regarded as the pioneer of the automatic drawing technique, created visual analogies to the ecriture automatique - a writing method that focused on chance, speed, and intuition. Size of image: 9.125" L x 12.5" W (23.2 cm x 31.8 cm) Size of frame: 15.5" L x 18.5" W (39.4 cm x 47 cm)

Andre Masson, like others of his generation, saw combat during World War I. Upon being seriously wounded, Masson became disillusioned with the world, rejected a life of reason, and pursued the irrational realm in his art. Mason joined the Surrealists in 1922. At the time, he was sharing a studio with modernist Joan Miro (Spanish, 1893-1983). By 1929, Mason departed from the group, finding Andre Breton's dominating leadership a bit too overbearing. As one can see in this composition, Mason was passionate about automatic drawing; however, his technique still demonstrated solid control of his materials. Masson's works may be found in many important collections of Modern Art including the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City as well as the Centres Pompidou in Paris; what's more, Masson's works have been exhibited at major museums and important galleries all over the world.

Provenance: ex-Nancy and Dr. E.F. Simpson collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from 1970 to 2000

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#171901

Lithograph has not been examined outside the frame but appears to be in very nice condition commensurate with age. Hand signed and numbered 3/25 in pencil below the image. Normal toning to paper upon which the lithograph lays. Frame has surface scuffs/nicks and slight separation to mitered corners commensurate with age. Small stain to gallery paper on verso (lower right corner) that does not impact the imagery of the lithograph. One of the screws holding the hanging wire is loose.