Forest and Dove

Forest and Dove (1927) is a painting by the German surrealist Max Ernst.

It depicts a nocturnal scene of a forest of bizarre, abstract trees.

Both the forest and dove themes have appeared several times in Ernst's works.

According to an analysis by the Tate Gallery in London the forest image represents the forest near Ernst's childhood home which inspired a sense of ‘enchantment and terror’ in the artist.

Grattage was invented by Ernst and the Spanish surrealist Joan Miró.