Arshile Gorky was one of the last great Surrealist painters and a major influence on (and early figure in) Abstract Expressionism. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1920, he devoted himself to apprenticeships in the style of other artists before developing his own personal vision. Through his friendships with Surrealist André Breton and painter Roberto Matta, he was introduced to automatic drawing and biomorphic imagery. Gorky's innovative, explosive landscapes used an abstract vocabulary to convey memories of his Armenian childhood alongside direct observations of nature.