Solar Currency-System (Système de monnaie solaire) from Natural History (Histoire naturelle) by Max Ernst is a definitive example of Surrealist experimentation, encapsulating the artist’s groundbreaking use of automatic techniques during the mid-1920s. This work is one of 34 collotypes published in the seminal portfolio Natural History, a collection of prints produced circa 1925 and published in 1926.
The foundation of the image lies in frottage, a technique Ernst invented in 1925. Frottage involves rubbing a pencil, chalk, or other medium over a sheet of paper placed atop a textured object, such as wood grain, wire mesh, or leaves. This mechanical process allowed Ernst to bypass conscious composition, enabling chance and the inherent properties of the material world to generate abstract or suggestive forms. The resulting patterns often evoke dense natural phenomena, cosmic structures, or mechanical blueprints, which Ernst then titled with pseudo-scientific terminology, such as this piece, suggesting a fantastical organization of energy or finance.
The subsequent conversion of the original frottage drawings into collotype prints allowed for the mass reproduction of these complex images. The quality of the collotype medium ensured the intricate textural details captured by the rubbing technique were preserved in the final output. This strategic use of reproductive prints was crucial to Surrealism’s goal of disseminating radical imagery and transforming everyday vision.
As a central figure in the French Surrealist movement, Ernst's contributions to graphic art were profound. This piece showcases his dedication to redefining the drawing process through indexical means. The work resides in the distinguished collection of the Museum of Modern Art, serving as a vital reference point for the study of automatism and the history of modern printmaking. While the portfolio is nearly a century old, prints of these innovative works remain essential for understanding the transition from Dada to mature Surrealism.
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