Max Ernst’s Mythopoeic Ecocriticism: Beyond Histoire naturelle

Pioneering various so-called chance techniques, Max Ernst embraced frottage for the realisation of Histoire naturelle , a compilation of 34 folios that unfold as a mythopoeic tale bringing together flora, fauna and humans. By this, Max Ernst sought to propose a narrative of creation differing from the Bible to illustrate an alternative account of interconnectedness between the actors. In a nod to multi-species ethics, the paper traces Max Ernst’s explorations of intertwined existences across an oeuvre whose creative force led him not only ‘beyond painting’, but furthermore towards a vision of mutual entanglement across diverse forms of being.