André Masson

André Masson (1896–1987) was a French painter and draftsman closely associated with Surrealism, known for his pioneering use of automatic drawing and painting as a means of bypassing conscious control and accessing the unconscious mind. His visceral, often violent imagery drew on themes of mythology, eroticism, war, and nature, and his experimental techniques—including pouring sand and glue onto canvases—helped lay groundwork for later Abstract Expressionism. Masson's work bridged European Surrealism and American avant-garde movements, influencing artists such as Jackson Pollock.