Born into a Jewish family, he spent his childhood wandering between Piatra Neamț, Galați, Mărășești, Fălticeni and finally Bucharest, where he took drawing classes alongside his studies. This early geographical mobility perhaps fueled his sensitivity to the transformations and metamorphoses that would characterize his work.
His move to Paris in 1930 immediately immersed him in the surrealist ferment. The friendships he formed with the movement's central figures permanently oriented his artistic research towards the exploration of the unconscious and everyday wonder. His depictions of flayed beings reveal a profound reflection on human vulnerability and the hidden structures of reality.
During World War II, his exile in the south of France became a period of fruitful collaboration with other refugee surrealists. This collective experience enriched his practice and confirmed his belonging to the movement, despite historical difficulties.
The years 1948-1949 marked a decisive evolution with the diversification of his painting and the entry into a period of fragmentation where he "exploded the mineral world". This phase revealed his ability to constantly renew his plastic language while maintaining aesthetic coherence.
His career as an illustrator of literary works demonstrates his versatility and commitment to the exchange between visual arts and writing, a characteristic of surrealism. His numerous exhibitions confirm his international recognition.
Jacques Hérold leaves a lasting legacy within Surrealism, his works continuing to be celebrated for their originality and psychological depth, testifying to a constant artistic investigation into the mysteries of the human condition.
