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Student Artwork Guide

Characters

André Masson, 1934

Name Class Date
André Masson, Characters (1934). 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 artsdot.com/en/artists/andre-masson/
Artist’s dates
1896 – 1987
Painted
1934
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: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 15, 2026

Characters — André Masson Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Characters — 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 38. The artist lived to 91. 63 of the 191 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of André Masson (1896–1987) ▲ this work, 1934 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: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/andre-masson-characters-6WHJX6-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Rosy Brown #b6a89e

    Catalogued palette

    • #B6A89E
    • #C29545
    • #E8CC59
    • #87654F

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

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Rosy Brown
    Intensity
    Vivid 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
    Clear Color Presence 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 — 10 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 64.6%
    2. 2 Italy 15.6%
    3. 3 United States of America 6.2%
    4. 4 France 5.2%
    5. 5 Portugal 2.1%
    6. 6 South Africa 2.1%
    7. 7 Ecuador 1.0%
    8. 8 Hong Kong 1.0%
    9. 9 Japan 1.0%
    10. 10 Philippines 1.0%

    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 18.3%
    2. 2 The site Gondola, 1952 1.9%
    3. 3 Slaughterhouse, 1930 1.9%
    4. 4 Landscape with Prodigies 1.9%
    5. 5 Minors, 1945 1.9%
    6. 6 Prison Gray, 1961 1.9%
    7. 7 Pupae to Toledo, 1935 1.9%
    8. 8 Man emblem, 1939 1.9%
    9. 9 Antille 2, 1943 1.9%
    10. 10 Portrait of André Breton, 1941 1.9%
    11. 11 Return of the Crusades, 1974 1.9%
    12. 12 Landscape with Rocks, 1923 1.0%
    13. 13 Pygmalion, 1938 1.0%
    14. 14 Dark Forest, 1937 1.0%
    15. 15 Meditation on an Oak Leaf, 1942 1.0%
    16. 16 Naked black sun, 1944 1.0%
    17. 17 The Andalusian Reapers, 1935 1.0%
    18. 18 Furious Suns, 1925 1.0%
    19. 19 The Labyrinth, 1938 1.0%
    20. 53 Characters, 1934 this painting 1.0%

    Together these works take 46.3% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 267 works by this artist, of which 76 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 53 of them, with 1.0% of that attention. 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: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 15, 2026

    Characters — 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 Characters

    artsdot.com/en/art/download/andre-masson-characters-6WHJX6-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Masson, André. Characters. 1934, https://artsdot.com/en/art/andre-masson-characters-6WHJX6-en/
    APA
    Masson, André (1934). Characters [Painting]. https://artsdot.com/en/art/andre-masson-characters-6WHJX6-en/
    Chicago
    André Masson. Characters. 1934. https://artsdot.com/en/art/andre-masson-characters-6WHJX6-en/
    Harvard
    Masson, André (1934) Characters. Available at: https://artsdot.com/en/art/andre-masson-characters-6WHJX6-en/

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 15, 2026

    Characters — André Masson Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Characters — 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. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 6 — do you agree?)
    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: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 15, 2026

    Characters — André Masson Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    Can I examine "Characters" in more detail?

    "Characters" can be examined layer by layer on the artwork's X-Ray page, a viewer inspired by a conservator's light bench with eleven optical readings of the image.

    Does "Characters" have an augmented reality preview?

    "Characters" by André Masson can be previewed on your own wall with the artwork's AR Preview page, using augmented reality on a compatible device.

    Which palette and lead color define "Characters"?

    The color identity of "Characters" by André Masson: an earthy palette, dominated by rosy brown (#b6a89e).

    Which color stands out most in "Characters"?

    rosy brown (#b6a89e) is the leading color of "Characters" by André Masson.

    Are the colors of "Characters" by André Masson saturated or muted?

    The colors of "Characters" by André Masson have a clear color presence saturation. Saturation describes how vivid or muted the colors are.

    What saturation and intensity does "Characters" by André Masson show?

    The color of "Characters" is clear color presence in saturation and vivid in intensity.

    How does the style of "Characters" relate to its creator's era?

    "Characters" by André Masson is placed in the Surrealism movement, within the Modern era of its creator.

    Which artist is "Characters" attributed to?

    The artist behind "Characters" is André Masson. The work is catalogued under André Masson's name.