IDBURY PRINTS

Original photogram by Max Ernst for the book Mr. Knife Miss Fork, a landmark in Surrealist imagery. The book was published in an edition of 255 copies; this image was also issued separately in an unknown number of copies tipped-in to the specialist typographical journal Arts et Métiers Graphiques, each issue of which included a number of tipped-in plates on various papers. The photogram is printed to the edges of a sheet of photosensitive paper, which is then mounted on a grey backing sheet, as issued; the dimensions given are that of the photogram itself. Max Ernst collaborated with Man Ray in developing the concept of the photogram -essentially a photograph taken without camera or lens - from the earlier cliché-verre technique. Max Ernst's photograms are among his most inspired work. They were made by combining frottage (making textural rubbings) and line drawing on pieces of thin translucent paper, and then using those pieces of paper as photographic negatives to create a reverse image (white on black) on photosensitive paper. Each photogram had to be individually made from the original drawing. Ref: Brusberg 31 (III). Condition: Fine.