The Pampas (Les Pampas) from Natural History (Histoire naturelle)

The Pampas (Les Pampas) from Natural History (Histoire naturelle) is a seminal print by Max Ernst, created circa 1925 and published in 1926. This artwork is one of 34 collotypes included in the groundbreaking Histoire naturelle portfolio, a collection that formally introduced and established the technique of frottage as a major method within Surrealist art. Ernst developed frottage, French for "rubbing," by placing paper over various textured surfaces, such as wood grain or netting, and applying charcoal or pencil to capture the random patterns beneath. The resulting markings were then translated into the stable, reproducible medium of the collotype print for mass distribution.

Within this portfolio, Ernst sought to reveal the "natural history" hidden beneath the mundane, treating the textures of objects as landscapes ripe for interpretation. In this specific image, the title references the vast South American grasslands, suggesting a chaotic, sprawling terrain created solely through the friction of the rubbing technique. The texture achieved by Ernst suggests organic structures or geologic layers, transforming the simple material impression into an evocative, often monstrous, vision of nature. The reliance on chance operations and the subconscious mind to generate imagery is characteristic of the French Surrealist movement active during the period c. 1925, published 1926.

This influential method dramatically impacted printmaking, offering a mechanical yet highly imaginative alternative to traditional drawing. Ernst’s exploration of non-traditional techniques cemented his status as a key figure in modern art. The final prints from Histoire naturelle are significant documents of the Surrealist era; reproductions of the work are increasingly accessible through public domain initiatives and specialized art reference sites. This critical print, The Pampas (Les Pampas), is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, serving as a pristine example of Ernst's early investigations into abstraction and automatism.