Whip Lashes or Lava Threads (Coups de fouet ou ficelles de lave) from Natural History (Histoire naturelle)

Whip Lashes or Lava Threads (Coups de fouet ou ficelles de lave) from Natural History (Histoire naturelle) is a foundational print by Max Ernst. Created circa 1925, this specific image is one of 34 collotypes included in the Surrealist artist’s seminal 1926 published portfolio. The French artist pioneered the revolutionary technique of frottage (rubbing) to create the source imagery for the series, utilizing the mechanical process to explore the tenets of automatism and chance in image making.

The technique involves placing paper over a textured surface, such as wood grain or leaves, and rubbing it with graphite, capturing a detailed relief pattern. The resultant textures, transferred to the paper, generated dynamic, non-representational compositions that suggested landscapes, figures, or geological structures. In Whip Lashes or Lava Threads, the visual effect is defined by dense, looping lines and sharp, kinetic energy, prompting the observer to interpret them either as the violent movement implied by the whip or the viscous, molten flow of lava.

Ernst’s experiments with frottage sought to bypass conscious artistic control, allowing the inherent structure of the material underneath to dictate the final form. This method was crucial to the development of early Surrealist graphic arts, pushing the boundaries of what was considered drawing and printmaking. The publication of Histoire naturelle in 1926, featuring these collotype prints, ensured that Ernst’s innovations were widely disseminated within the avant-garde community. This historical work, representing a key moment in the development of 20th-century French art, is held in the distinguished collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Prints of major historical pieces like this sometimes enter the public domain, offering broad access for study and appreciation.