Fine Art Poster
From $29
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
The Virgin Spanking the Christ Child before Three Witnesses: Andre Breton, Paul Eluard, and the Painter - Max Ernst
Regular price
$29.00 USD
Sale price
$29.00 USD
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A provocative Surrealist work by Max Ernst, depicting a domestic scene that subverts traditional religious iconography through the lens of the avant-garde.
Max Ernst painted this work in 1926, a period when he was deeply involved with the Parisian Surrealist circle. The composition subverts traditional religious iconography by depicting the Virgin Mary in a domestic, violent act of discipline against the Christ Child. The scene is set within a stark, architectural space that removes the event from any sacred context, placing it instead into the realm of the absurd and the provocative.
In the upper left, a small window reveals three male figures: the poet Paul Eluard, the Surrealist leader André Breton, and the artist himself. Their presence as spectators transforms the religious subject into a private, almost voyeuristic experience. The halo of the Virgin lies on the floor, discarded, while the Christ Child's own halo is also visible nearby, suggesting a complete abandonment of their divine status. The figures are rendered with a smooth, almost academic finish, which contrasts sharply with the bizarre nature of the narrative.
Ernst uses a bold palette of primary colours, specifically the deep red of the Virgin's robe and the blue of her skirt, to anchor the figures against the muted, geometric background. The painting functions as a critique of religious authority and traditional morality, common themes within the Surrealist movement. By placing his contemporaries as witnesses, Ernst bridges the gap between the historical past and the modern avant-garde. The work remains a primary example of how Surrealist artists utilised shock and the juxtaposition of incongruous elements to disrupt the viewer's expectations of art history and religious imagery.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Complete The Look
The Virgin Spanking the Christ Child before Three Witnesses: Andre Breton, Paul Eluard, and the Painter - Max Ernst
Regular price
From $29.00 USD
Sale price
From $29.00 USD
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Max Ernst
Ernst invented frottage because he was staring at a wooden floor. He was in a hotel room in 1925, looking at the grain of the floorboards, and saw figures and landscapes in the patterns. He placed paper over the surface and rubbed it with graphite. The textures that emerged, wood grain transformed into forests, oceans, and strange organic forms, became the basis of his painting technique for the next decade.
He was born in Brühl, near Cologne, and studied philosophy and art history at the University of Bonn. He had no formal art training. He saw a Picasso exhibition, joined the Rhineland Expressionists, served in the German army during the First World War (artillery), and emerged with what he described as a compulsion to find something beyond rational thought. Dada gave him the method. Surrealism gave him the framework.
His collage novels, made from cut-up Victorian engravings reassembled into dreamlike narratives, are among the most original works of the twentieth century. Une Semaine de Bonte (A Week of Kindness, 1934) is a series of 182 collages arranged in five chapters, each associated with an element and a day of the week. The imagery is violent, erotic, and funny. The source material, melodramatic Victorian illustrations, is treated with deadpan seriousness.
He married four times. His second wife was Peggy Guggenheim (briefly). His fourth was the painter Dorothea Tanning. He moved to America during the war, lived in Sedona, Arizona, and then returned to France. He died in Paris in 1976, the night before his eighty-fifth birthday.
He was born in Brühl, near Cologne, and studied philosophy and art history at the University of Bonn. He had no formal art training. He saw a Picasso exhibition, joined the Rhineland Expressionists, served in the German army during the First World War (artillery), and emerged with what he described as a compulsion to find something beyond rational thought. Dada gave him the method. Surrealism gave him the framework.
His collage novels, made from cut-up Victorian engravings reassembled into dreamlike narratives, are among the most original works of the twentieth century. Une Semaine de Bonte (A Week of Kindness, 1934) is a series of 182 collages arranged in five chapters, each associated with an element and a day of the week. The imagery is violent, erotic, and funny. The source material, melodramatic Victorian illustrations, is treated with deadpan seriousness.
He married four times. His second wife was Peggy Guggenheim (briefly). His fourth was the painter Dorothea Tanning. He moved to America during the war, lived in Sedona, Arizona, and then returned to France. He died in Paris in 1976, the night before his eighty-fifth birthday.
Made to order
Choose your finish
Every piece is printed to order. These are the five finishes, and what makes each one different.
Fine Art Framed
From $89
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
Why Choose Us ?
Damage-free delivery guarantee
Fast Shipping
Museum-Quality Materials
You May Also Like