André Masson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
André Masson
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| Born |
André-Aimé-René Masson
4 January 1896 Balagny-sur-Thérain, Oise, France
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| Died | 28 October 1987 (aged 91) Paris, France
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| Known for | Painting |
| Movement | Surrealism |
André-Aimé-René Masson (born January 4, 1896 – died October 28, 1987) was a famous French artist. He is known for his unique painting style and his connection to the Surrealism art movement.
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About André Masson
André Masson was born in a small town called Balagny-sur-Thérain, France. When he was eight, his family moved to Brussels, Belgium, because of his father's job.
He started studying art at a young age, at eleven years old. He went to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels. Later, he continued his art studies in Paris, France.
Masson fought for France during World War I. He was seriously injured during the war. After the war, he shared an art studio in Paris with another famous artist, Joan Miró.
His Art and Style
Early Art and Surrealism
In his early paintings, André Masson showed an interest in Cubism. This art style uses geometric shapes to show objects from different angles.
Later, he became part of the Surrealism movement. Surrealism was an art movement that explored dreams and the imagination. Masson was very keen on a technique called automatic drawing. This is where an artist draws without planning, letting their hand move freely. It was a way to let the subconscious mind create art.
Around 1926, Masson started to experiment with new ways to create art. He would throw sand and glue onto his canvases. Then, he would use the shapes that formed to create oil paintings.
Art During Wartime
Masson was living in a fishing village in Spain when the Spanish Civil War began. This war influenced many of his paintings. He also reconnected with the Surrealist artists in the late 1930s.
During World War II, when Nazi Germany occupied France, the Nazis called his art "Degenerate art". This meant they thought his art was bad and not allowed. With help from a man named Varian Fry, Masson escaped the Nazis. He traveled by ship to the island of Martinique, then went to the United States.
While living in Connecticut, his art became very important. It influenced American artists who created Abstract Expressionism. A famous artist named Jackson Pollock was one of those influenced by Masson.
After the war, Masson went back to France. He settled in a place called Aix-en-Provence. There, he painted many landscapes, showing the beauty of nature.
His Family
André Masson had a talented family. His son, Diego Masson, born in 1935, is a conductor, composer, and percussionist. Another son, Luis Masson, became an actor. His daughter, Lily Masson, born in 1920, was also a painter.
See also
In Spanish: André Masson para niños
