Max Ernst, gouache on paper

Updated October 28, 2026

Title: Masked Woman in a Feathered Cloak Before Red Trees and a Golden Sphinx Technique: Gouache on paper Measures: 15 x 11 inches (38.1 x 27.9 cm) Year: Undated Condition: Appears in generally good visual condition based on the photographs supplied, with rich, saturated coloration and dense, opaque brushwork, particularly in the textured foliage and the figure's cloak. No significant tears, losses, or creases are apparent in the available images. Minor surface irregularities, light handling marks, and age-related wear may be present. Presented in a dark wood-grain frame with a beaded gold-toned inner border and a narrow silver lip, showing minor surface wear. Not examined out of the frame. Condition is described from the photographs supplied. Please review all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the condition description. Provenance: Private Collection Visual Description: A dreamlike landscape in vertical format, centered on a standing female figure with a pale, mask-like face who wears an enormous cloak and hood made of ruffled, feather-like layers in rust, copper, crimson, and burnt orange, from which a bare leg and a dark boot emerge. She stands on a green path between two pairs of strange trees whose slender, column-like trunks and dense, sponge-textured crowns are painted in vivid scarlet, vermilion, and coral, rising from mossy mounds of red and olive. Behind her, at the edge of a still lake, lies a golden reclining creature, part sphinx and part lion, with a single pale blue eye, from whose back rise two fluted golden columns entwined with a coiling serpent. The calm water mirrors the golden forms and the far shore, where autumn trees in amber and ochre line the bank beneath gray-blue mountains. Above, a pale turquoise sky is filled with drifting white and gray clouds. The fusion of human, animal, and architectural forms, the uncanny textures of the foliage and cloak, and the hushed, theatrical stillness of the scene reflect the visual language of Surrealism. The lower right bears a painted inscription reading "max ernst." This composition reflects stylistic elements commonly associated with major figures in modern and contemporary art. For additional information regarding certification, provenance, or any inquiries about this piece or other items, please don't hesitate to contact us through the HiBid platform. A secondary market exists for uncatalogued artworks like this one, which often results in lower estimated and sale prices compared to catalogued artist works. If you have any specific questions or require further assistance in understanding the value, context, or details of this artwork, we are here to help and provide any additional information you may need.

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