# Max von Moos artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/max-von-moos/
Profile generated: 2026-05-24T21:49:12.647Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1903-12-06
- Nationality: Swiss
- Movements: Surrealism
- Common media: oil painting, graphic art / printmaking, drawing

## About Max von Moos

Max von Moos (1903–1979) was a Swiss painter, graphic artist, and draftsman associated with the Surrealist movement. Born and based in Lucerne, he developed a distinctive visual vocabulary that positioned him among the notable Swiss contributors to twentieth-century Surrealism. His practice encompassed oil painting, printmaking, and drawing, often exploring dreamlike imagery and subconscious themes. Von Moos spent his career in Lucerne and also taught, influencing younger artists including Luciano Castelli. His graphic work is well represented in institutional collections. While less widely known internationally than some contemporaries, von Moos appears regularly in Central European art-historical contexts and maintains a steady presence in auction records, making him a figure collectors encounter when exploring Swiss Surrealism and modern graphic arts.

## Common works and media

Von Moos commonly produced oil paintings, ink and graphite drawings, and graphic prints including etchings and lithographs. His subjects frequently reflect Surrealist preoccupations with dream imagery, fantastical figures, and the subconscious. Works on paper — both unique drawings and editioned prints — represent a substantial share of his output that appears at auction. Collectors may also encounter exhibition posters and illustrated materials tied to his Lucerne exhibitions.

## Market and appraisal context

Von Moos's works appear regularly at auction, particularly in Swiss and Central European sales. Collectors most frequently encounter his graphic works, drawings, and paintings. Factors that may affect appraisal include the medium, provenance, condition, date of execution, and whether a work can be firmly linked to his Surrealist period. Editioned prints and works on paper form a significant portion of his auction market. As with many regional Surrealist figures, institutional exhibition history and published catalogue references can strengthen attribution and value. Comparable auction records should be consulted for current estimates, as specific price data is outside the scope of this profile.

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine artist identity research from museum, library, and authority sources with auction records, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. This page draws on sources including the RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History, the Getty Union List of Artist Names, VIAF, Wikidata, and Wikipedia, as cited throughout.

## Sources

- RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/57562
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1516080
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/119150514/
- Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500000645
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_von_Moos
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n83065064