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Artwork dossier

Artwork dossier: The four elements

André Masson, 1924

The full record of The four elements

André Masson, The four elements (1924). 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 four elements artwork fact sheet

Artist
André Masson originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/andre-masson/
Artist’s dates
1896 – 1987
Painted
1924
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: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Nov. 8, 2026

The four elements — André Masson Part 1 · The artwork

In context

The four elements — 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 28. The artist lived to 91. 11 of the 192 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of André Masson (1896–1987) ▲ this work, 1924 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1926 Main working years: 1926–1946 Late works: from 1946

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: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/andre-masson-the-four-elements-6WHJVP-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Khaki #d5c37e

    Catalogued palette

    • #D5C37E
    • #9C8756
    • #EADD9C
    • #BCA86A

    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
    Khaki
    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
    Unified Palette 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 — 29 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 35.9%7,000 visits
    2. 2 Italy 11.8%2,300 visits
    3. 3 Poland 7.7%1,500 visits
    4. 4 United States of America 7.7%1,500 visits
    5. 5 Germany 7.2%1,400 visits
    6. 6 France 6.7%1,300 visits
    7. 7 Japan 2.6%500 visits
    8. 8 Taiwan 2.6%500 visits
    9. 9 Colombia 2.1%400 visits
    10. 10 United Kingdom 1.5%300 visits
    11. · 19 other countries 14.2%2,800 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 15.6%3,800 visits
    2. 2 The metamorphosis of the lovers, 1938 7.4%1,800 visits
    3. 3 The Constellations, 1925 6.6%1,600 visits
    4. 4 The Labyrinth, 1938 3.3%800 visits
    5. 5 Ariadne s thread, 1938 2.5%600 visits
    6. 6 Meditation on an Oak Leaf, 1942 2.1%500 visits
    7. 7 Kitchen maids 2.1%500 visits
    8. 8 The Earth, 1939 1.6%400 visits
    9. 9 Slaughterhouse, 1930 1.6%400 visits
    10. 10 Melusine, 1937 1.6%400 visits
    11. 11 Portrait of the poet Kleist, 1939 1.2%300 visits
    12. 12 The Thread of Ariadna 1.2%300 visits
    13. 13 The career of Bibemus, 1948 1.2%300 visits
    14. 14 The bottom of the sea, 1937 1.2%300 visits
    15. 15 The four elements, 1924 this painting 1.2%300 visits
    16. 16 Seeded Earth, 1942 1.2%300 visits
    17. 17 Landscape with Rocks, 1923 0.8%200 visits
    18. 18 Pygmalion, 1938 0.8%200 visits
    19. 19 Optical mirror, 1942 0.8%200 visits
    20. 20 Birds and masks, 1924 0.8%200 visits

    Together these works take 54.8% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 268 works by this artist, of which 106 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 15 of them, with 1.2% of that attention (300 visits). 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: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Nov. 8, 2026

    The four elements — 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.

    André Masson study guide: keep exploring

    Every fact we hold on The four elements by André Masson, on its artwork page

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for The four elements

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/andre-masson-the-four-elements-6WHJVP-en/

    Citing this artwork: The four elements

    MLA
    Masson, André. The four elements. 1924, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/andre-masson-the-four-elements-6WHJVP-en/
    APA
    Masson, André (1924). The four elements [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/andre-masson-the-four-elements-6WHJVP-en/
    Chicago
    André Masson. The four elements. 1924. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/andre-masson-the-four-elements-6WHJVP-en/
    Harvard
    Masson, André (1924) The four elements. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/andre-masson-the-four-elements-6WHJVP-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Nov. 8, 2026

    The four elements — André Masson Part 3 · Artist and museum

    For art students and researchers

    The four elements — André Masson

    Close-looking art worksheet on The four elements, for students and researchers

    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: surrealism, elements, figures. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Goethe or the metamorphosis of plants (1940), 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: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Nov. 8, 2026

    The four elements — André Masson Part 4 · For art students and researchers

    Questions & Answers

    Can I preview "The four elements" by André Masson before ordering?

    The Preview page of "The four elements" lets you preview the artwork before ordering.

    What stage of André Masson's development does "The four elements" represent?

    Within André Masson's career, "The four elements" falls in the Early Modern. The phase helps compare it with the artist's other works.

    Can I examine "The four elements" in more detail?

    The X-Ray page of "The four elements" by André Masson is an interactive viewer that lets you slide through eleven optical layers of the artwork's image, including an X-ray style view.

    From which country does the Surrealism work "The four elements" come?

    "The four elements" connects the Surrealism movement with France through its creator's birthplace.

    Does "The four elements" by André Masson use strong contrasts or soft harmonies?

    The color analysis of "The four elements" by André Masson records a serene contrast and a unified palette harmony.

    All the questions and answers about The four elements