Earthquake (Le Tremblement de terre) from Natural History (Histoire naturelle) is a foundational print by the influential German-born Surrealist artist Max Ernst, dating from circa 1925 and formally published in 1926. This dynamic piece is one of 34 collotypes comprising the artist's seminal portfolio, a work that immediately solidified his reputation within the Parisian avant-garde. The entire series was derived from original frottages, a revolutionary technique Ernst developed in 1925.
The frottage method involves placing thin sheets of paper over found textured materials-such as weathered wood, leaves, or string-and rubbing the surface with graphite or charcoal. This process forces the random texture to become the subject, allowing the artist to circumvent traditional artistic intention. For Ernst, this spontaneous method served as a form of automatic writing, opening a pathway into the subconscious and reflecting the core principles of French Surrealism, which dominated the period’s artistic landscape.
In Earthquake, the composition harnesses this mechanical process to evoke immense destructive force. The resulting imagery consists of swirling, dense patterns and severe horizontal and vertical breaks, strongly suggesting fissures opening in the earth during a seismic event. Ernst transformed simple material rubbings into complex, emotionally charged landscapes of natural chaos and primeval life, reinforcing the portfolio’s title, Natural History.
The Histoire naturelle series marked a pivotal moment in 20th-century printmaking, establishing new formal approaches for graphic expression. Preserved in major institutions worldwide, this specific work from the c. 1925, published 1926 portfolio is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). As classic examples of French Surrealist graphic art, these influential prints are frequently studied, with historical images from the era increasingly becoming accessible through public domain initiatives.
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