Is not for sale

Max Ernst conoció la obra Birthday, en 1942, en el estudio de la artista, la pintora Dorothea Tanning. Parece ser que le causó tal impacto la obra como el encuentro; en 1943 el artista se separaba de Peggy Guggenheim, ya vivía con Dorothea.

 Birthday, 1942

En las memorias escritas en 2001 por la propia Dorothea, ésta recuerda que cuando un coleccionista intentó comprar la obra, Max Ernst respondió:

This picture is not for sale, said Max.
I love Dorothea. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. The picture is part of that life.

Between Lives: An Artist and her world, 2001 by Dorothea Tanning

En 1946 Max y Dorothea se casaban en Beverly Hills en una doble boda junto a Man Ray y Juliet Browner

 

Max Ernst, Dorothea Tanning , Man Ray and Juliet Browner

Florence Homolka

Beverly Hills, California, 1946

Man Ray thought it was funny. With the intention to marry, we had come to Hollywood, where he lived. Getting married in Hollywood! we all laughed about it, but the next morning he said, "maybe we'll go too. if max can do it so can i." and added, ruefully, "though i've never done anything so rectangular." on october 24, 1946, therefore, a double wedding in Beverly Hills united, in the eyes of the law, Max and Dorothea, and Man ray and Julie. there. it's said and done. painless, forgettable, but fun.

 Between Lives: An Artist and her World, 2001 by Dorothea Tanning