André Masson
Tauromachie
1936
Scroll
André Masson
Tauromachie
1936
Physical Qualities
Oil on canvas, 32 × 39 1/2 in. (81.3 × 100.3 cm.)
Framed: 33 1/2 × 41 × 2 in. (85.1 × 104.1 × 5.1 cm.)
Credit Line
The Cone Collection, formed by Dr. Claribel Cone and Miss Etta Cone of Baltimore, Maryland
Object Number
1950.349
André Masson
born Balagny-sur-Thérain, France1896; died Paris, France 1987
Tauromachie
1937
Oil on canvas
Tauromachie, André Masson’s most ambitious treatment of the bull fight theme, draws heavily upon Pablo Picasso’s (1881–1973) painting Guernica, which was completed shortly before this work was finished. Both images employ grief-stricken hand gestures, beseeching open-mouths, up-turned faces, and collapsing horses. Masson’s work appears to represent the bullfighter twice in mirrored figures: above, sleeping and dreaming his own death, and below, wide awake and conscious of his horrific predicament. The painting underscores the psychic contrast between dreaming and wakeful states.
The Cone Collection, BMA 1950.349
Publication References
"Modern French Art," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1938, no. 14 (published as "Bull-fight").
"An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings by André Masson," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1941, no. 15, ill.
M. Leiris and G. Limbour, "André Masson and His Universe," London: Éditions des Trois Collines, 1947, no. 68, ill.
Brenda Richardson, "Dr. Claribel & Miss Etta: The Cone Collection of The Baltimore Museum of Art," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1985, p. 193.
Dawn Ades, "André Masson," Barcelona: Ediciones Polígrafa, 1994, p. 127, no. 53, ill. (published as "Tauromachy").
Sandor Kuthy, ed., "Masson: Massaker, Metamorphoses, Mythologien," Bern, Switzerland: Kunstmuseum Bern, 1996, p. 34, no. 26, ill.
William Jeffett, ed., "André Masson: the 1930s," St. Petersburg, FL: Salvador Dalí Museum, 1999, pp. 89, 146, 152, cover page, no. 25, ill.
Eric M. Zafran, "Impressionism to Surrealism from The Baltimore Museum of Art," Hartford: Wadsworth Atheneum, 2002, pp. 9, 17, no. 21.
Josefina Alix, "André Masson 1896-1987," Madrid: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, 2004, pp. 137, 160, p. 160, ill.
Paul Wood, ed., "Varieties of Modernism," London: Yale University Press with The Open University, 2004, p. 38, pl. 1.21, ill. (published as "Tauromachy").
Susan Helen Adler, "Saidie May: Pioneer of Early 20th Century Collecting," Baltimore: Susan Helen Adler, 2008, pp. 200-202, 312, p. 200, ill.
Nerea Sagredo, ed., "Taurus: Del Mito al Ritual," Bilbao: Museo de Bellas Artes, 2010, pp. 69, 73, fig. 42, ill. (published as "Tauromaquia").
Guite Masson, Martin Masson, Catherine Loewer, main text by Dawn Ades, "André Masson Catalogue raisonné de l’oeuvre peint, 1919-1941. Volume II 1930-1941," Cat. no. 1937.13, p. 283, 284.
Greeley, Robin Adele, Samantha Kavky, Oliver Shell, and Oliver Tostmann. "Monsters & Myths: Surrealism and War in the 1930s and 1940s." New York, NY: Rizzoli Electa in association with The Baltimore Museum of Art and Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 2018, ill.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by bequest, 1949; Etta Cone, Baltimore, by purchase; December 1, 1942; Saidie A. May, Baltimore, by purchase, 1937; Galerie Simon, Paris
Andre Masson - Retrospective
Tauromachies: From Myth to Ritual
Monsters & Myths: Surrealism and War in the 1930s and 1940s
Masson, Nîmes et les toros
Andre Masson. There is no finished world
Northwest Cone Rotations 2023
Cone Wing Rotations 2024
Surrealism at 100
Inscribed: Recto: Lower left in black paint, "andre Masson"