Battle of Fishes

Many painters had widely disparate approaches in the early years of the surrealism movement. Andre Masson's manner of generating his works was unlike any other surrealism.

His artwork, Battle of Fishes, could be considered unrefined in comparison to the works of Dali and others who focus on precise, often accurate portrayals of things and environments.

According to the artist, the painting depicts underwater fish in a never-ending cycle of attacking and consuming one another. This is a direct reference to the horrors of World War I, which had just finished when Masson completed his masterwork.

Masson created a distinctive oceanic picture by applying gesso to some portions of the canvas and scattering sand on top. He also included paint that was poured directly from a tube rather than applied with a brush.

The aggressive character of the fish and other aspects of the picture may reflect Masson's damaged mental state, as he observed the worst events of the conflict firsthand.

Date created: 1926

Dimensions: 36.2 × 73 cm (14 1/4 × 28 3/4 in)