In contrast to the joyous nature of the Matisse, Ernst spreads his entangled leaves and tendrils across the picture, so that they appear locked in combat, and populates this death trap with praying mantises. Lost in this sinister world is a diminutive human being (upper right) alongside a crouching beast. This predatory jungle is an expression of the artist's outrage at the worsening political situation in Europe during the 1930s.

Provenance

Penrose Collection.