Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Automatic drawing 04

André Masson, 1925

Name Class Date
André Masson, Automatic drawing 04 (1925). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
André Masson allpaintingsstore.com/en/artists/andre-masson/
Artist’s dates
1896 – 1987
Painted
1925
Movement
Surrealism Dream logic painted with waking precision: impossible things shown as if they were ordinary.

Copyright This work is still under copyright. André Masson died in 1987; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2057. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Source: AllPaintingsStore.com — accessed Oct. 8, 2026

Automatic drawing 04 — André Masson Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Automatic drawing 04 — André Masson

When was this painted?

  1. 1890
  2. 1900
  3. 1910
  4. 1920
  5. 1930
  6. 1940
  7. 1950
  8. 1960
  9. 1970
  10. 1980

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 91 at death.

Painted when the artist was 29. The artist lived to 91. 26 of the 191 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of André Masson (1896–1987) ▲ this work, 1925 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1926 Main working years: 1926–1947 Late works: from 1947

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/similar/andre-masson-automatic-drawing-04-6WHJVV-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    White #fdfcfc

    Catalogued palette

    • #FDFCFC
    • #656164
    • #A8A5A8
    • #D4D2D4

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Pastels The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    White
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Serene How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by André Masson over the last twelve months — 12 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 60.8%6,200 visits
    2. 2 Italy 16.7%1,700 visits
    3. 3 United States of America 5.9%600 visits
    4. 4 France 4.9%500 visits
    5. 5 Tunisia 2.9%300 visits
    6. 6 Portugal 2.0%200 visits
    7. 7 South Africa 2.0%200 visits
    8. 8 Brazil 1.0%100 visits
    9. 9 Ecuador 1.0%100 visits
    10. 10 Hong Kong 1.0%100 visits
    11. · 2 other countries 1.8%200 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by André Masson

    1. 1 Goethe or the metamorphosis of plants, 1940 24.0%3,600 visits
    2. 2 The Labyrinth, 1938 3.3%500 visits
    3. 3 The Earth, 1939 2.7%400 visits
    4. 4 Landscape with Rocks, 1923 1.3%200 visits
    5. 5 Meditation on an Oak Leaf, 1942 1.3%200 visits
    6. 6 Bullfighting, 1937 1.3%200 visits
    7. 7 Entanglement, 1941 1.3%200 visits
    8. 8 Portrait of the poet Kleist, 1939 1.3%200 visits
    9. 9 The site Gondola, 1952 1.3%200 visits
    10. 10 Gradiva, 1939 1.3%200 visits
    11. 11 The bottom of the sea, 1937 1.3%200 visits
    12. 12 Slaughterhouse, 1930 1.3%200 visits
    13. 13 The City Night, 1956 1.3%200 visits
    14. 14 Landscape with Prodigies 1.3%200 visits
    15. 15 Kitchen maids 1.3%200 visits
    16. 16 Minors, 1945 1.3%200 visits
    17. 17 Prison Gray, 1961 1.3%200 visits
    18. 18 Massacre, 1932 1.3%200 visits
    19. 19 Pupae to Toledo, 1935 1.3%200 visits
    20. — Automatic drawing 04, 1925 this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 50.8% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 267 works by this artist, of which 88 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: AllPaintingsStore.com — accessed Oct. 8, 2026

    Automatic drawing 04 — André Masson Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    André Masson

    Born in Balagny-sur-Thérain, France

    André Masson: A Life in Art

    Born: Balagny-sur-Thérain, France (January 4, 1896)

    Died: 1987

    Early Life and Artistic Training

    Masson began his artistic journey at the age of eleven, studying at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels under Constant Montald. This early training provided a foundation for his later experimentation with various styles.

    His initial work showed an interest in Cubism, demonstrating an early engagement with modern art movements.

    The Surrealist Period and Automatic Drawing

    Masson became a key figure within the Surrealist movement, enthusiastically embracing automatic drawing as a technique. This involved creating artwork without conscious control, allowing the subconscious to guide the hand.

    He collaborated with other prominent figures of the era like Antonin Artaud, Michel Leiris, Joan Miró, Georges Bataille, Jean Dubuffet, and Georges Malkine, fostering a vibrant artistic community.

    Notable Techniques:

    Automatic Drawings: Numerous pen-and-ink works showcasing his innovative approach to art.

    Sand and Glue on Canvas: Experimentation with throwing sand and glue onto canvas, creating unique oil paintings based on the resulting shapes.

    His work during this period often explored violent or erotic themes, reflecting a departure from traditional artistic conventions.

    Evolution and Later Works

    By the late 1920s, Masson moved away from Surrealism, developing a more structured style influenced by artists like André Derain. This is evident in his landscape paintings.

    During World War II, his work was condemned as "degenerate" by the Nazis. He escaped to the United States with assistance from Varian Fry, significantly impacting American Abstract Expressionists like Jackson Pollock.

    After returning to France, Masson settled in Aix-en-Provence and focused on landscape painting, demonstrating a shift towards more naturalistic subjects.

    Legacy and Influence

    André Masson's pioneering work in Surrealism and automatic drawing left an enduring legacy on the art world.

    His influence can be seen across various artistic movements, from Cubism to Abstract Expressionism, solidifying his position as a pivotal figure in modern art history.

    Masson’s exploration of subconscious imagery and innovative techniques continue to inspire artists today.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Automatic drawing 04

    allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/download/andre-masson-automatic-drawing-04-6WHJVV-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Masson, André. Automatic drawing 04. 1925, https://allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/andre-masson-automatic-drawing-04-6WHJVV-en/
    APA
    Masson, André (1925). Automatic drawing 04 [Painting]. https://allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/andre-masson-automatic-drawing-04-6WHJVV-en/
    Chicago
    André Masson. Automatic drawing 04. 1925. https://allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/andre-masson-automatic-drawing-04-6WHJVV-en/
    Harvard
    Masson, André (1925) Automatic drawing 04. Available at: https://allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/andre-masson-automatic-drawing-04-6WHJVV-en/

    Source: AllPaintingsStore.com — accessed Oct. 8, 2026

    Automatic drawing 04 — André Masson Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Automatic drawing 04 — André Masson

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: abstract figure, dynamic lines”, “turbulence”. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Childbirth (1955), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Surrealism: Dream logic painted with waking precision: impossible things shown as if they were ordinary. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: AllPaintingsStore.com — accessed Oct. 8, 2026

    Automatic drawing 04 — André Masson Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    Is there a slideshow for "Automatic drawing 04" by André Masson?

    The diaporama of "Automatic drawing 04" can be watched on the artwork's Diaporama page.

    Where does "Automatic drawing 04" stand among André Masson's recurring subjects?

    André Masson's recurring themes include surrealist automatism, early expressionism", freehand drawing, psychic exploration", emotional flux, violence & metamorphosis, "automa; "Automatic drawing 04" focuses on abstract figure, dynamic lines”, “turbulence”, “emotional sketch”, “expressive form”, “line art drawing”, “automatic style”.

    At what age did André Masson make "Automatic drawing 04"?

    André Masson made "Automatic drawing 04" at the age of 29. The artist was born in 1896 and the work is dated 1925.