André Masson is undoubtedly among the leading figures in 20th century art. Through his work and philosophy he not only essentially influenced the history of art, but was also a strong mentor for the generation of young artists by making new inventions in art initially a new way of thinking, but also a new way of painting. He never characterised himself as an informal or abstract painter – even so tachism has developed from his discussion on calligraphy and the aesthetic rules of Zen Buddhism. All contemporary tendencies in philosophy, psychology and literature found their way into Masson’s oeuvre. But Masson constantly took his own route; he never allowed himself to be classified and therefore changed his artistic style and technique frequently. This may be one reason why, for a long time he was unknown to non-professionals. He used quite different styles and techniques autonomically and competently. The missing recognition of a constant recognisable feature may have hindered his reputation for a while, but this fact alone shows the artist as what he really is: a genuine drawer, a most inventive painter, a remarkable sculptor – a universal figure for the arts.
1896: Born on January 4 in Balagny-sur-Thérain in northern France.
1907: At the age of 11 he is accepted at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts et l ´Ecole des Arts Décoratifs, the Belgium national art school in Brussels. His main instructor is the Symbolist Constant Montald. The work of James Ensor introduces him to modern painting.
1912-1913: Moves to Paris and studies under Raphael Collin and Paul Baudoin at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts.
1914: Studies fresco painting in Tuscany, has an extended visit to Switzerland. When World War One breaks out, he returns to Paris and volunteers for war.
1917: A severe chest injury forces repeated stays in hospital. He is detained due to anti-militaristic activities.
1918/19: Joins Maurice Loutreuil in Martigues and begins to paint landscapes.
1921: Moves into an atelier on the Rue Blomet, near that of Joan Miró. The art dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler takes his work under contract.
1922: Meets Jean Dubuffet, Georges Limbour and André Malraux. Intensive engagement with erotic drawings and gouaches.
1923: Experiments with automatic drawing, or écriture-automatique. Has contact to Antonin Artaud, Gertrude Stein and Louis Aragon.
1924: First solo exhibition at the Galerie Simon in Paris. André Breton invites him to become a member of the Surrealists. Meets Ernest Hemingway.
1925 : Meets Yves Tanguy, Jacques Prévert, Jacques Doucet and Pablo Picasso.
1926: Creates his first paintings using glue and sand. The pictorial topic of his work increasingly involves violence and death.
1927: Meets Alberto Giacometti, who motivates his first attempts at sculpture.
1930: He is introduced to Zen Buddhism and Asian art, which become important sources of inspiration for his art, by the Japanese Kuni Matsuo.
1932: Meets Henri Matisse in southern France.
1933: Designs the stage sets and costumes for Léonide Massine´s ballet Les Présages. The first issue of the magazine Minotaure, with which Masson is heavily involved, is published.
1936/37: He draws the cover of the premier issue of the magazine Acéphale. When the Spanish Civil War breaks out, he returns to France. Renews contact to the Surrealists.
1939: Creates imaginary portraits and city scenes as well as sand paintings and objects made from found bits and pieces. After the outbreak of WWII, he begins to emphasise the metaphysical meaning of his work.
1941: Escapes to the United States, to New Preston, CO. Befriends Alexander Calder, Arshile Gorky, and Yves Tanguy (among others). His work influences the young painters of Abstract Expressionism, particularly Jackson Pollock.
1943: Breaks up with André Breton.
1945-47: Meets Jean-Paul Sartre. Returns to Paris.
1954: Is awarded the Grand Prix National des Arts, the national art prize of France.
1964: Decreasing abstraction in his work.
1976: Due to physical infirmity, Masson must rely on a wheelchair; he stops painting at the end of the 1970s.
1987 : Dies in Paris on the night of 27 October.
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