Max Ernst "Beyond Painting" at MoMA Surrealist Dada Art a Bit on the Far Side

The Max Ernst "Beyond Painting" exhibit at MoMA amasses more than 100 works (all from MoMA's permanent collection) that include oil paintings, over paintings, prints, collages, illustrations & sculptures.  Ernst (b German 1891-1976) fought for in the German army during WWI.  His wartime experiences were traumatizing.  His artistic expression as a leader in the Dada & Surrealism movements are reflective of hallucinatory & bizarre imageries.  I've never gravitated towards Ernst's works.  Perhaps they are meant to be unsettling and remote.  As you enter the exhibit there is a large photo of Ernst taking while living at Peggy Guggenheim's apartment.  Ernst fled Germany for France during WWII where he was interned for periods as a German nationalist.  He immigrated to the US after WWII.  Guggenheim not only became a major patron of Ernst, she also became his third wife.  I would argue that Guggenheim's promotion of Ernst's work propelled him into the art world.  Although, he did garner attention from Pollack (one of Guggenheim's major benefactors).  I thought the overpainting were the most intriguing & unique works.  And, I appreciated his rubbings of found objects with added embellishments.  Many of the paintings & sketches reminded me of Salvador Dali or Marcel Duchamp but somewhat less compelling.   The sculptures looked similar to those of Picasso.   A large high school group came through while I was in the galleries.  They breezed through the exhibit with disinterest in the collection.  My 2 favorite pieces in the exhibit were collages "Sun & Forest" (1931) using corrugated cardboard and oil painting & "10 Children Frightened by a Nightingale" with figures carrying knives and a minuscule bird in the deep blue sky.  Max Ernst "Beyond Painting" did not stir an arousing exchange from me.