Born on April 20, 1901, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, Michel Leiris dedicated his life to exploring writing as a means of self-knowledge and understanding the world. After joining the surrealist group in 1924, he participated in ethnological expeditions to Africa, experiences that shaped his views on otherness and cultural representation. His best-known work is 'L'Âge d'homme' (1939), a raw and complex self-portrait that challenges literary conventions. Throughout his career, Leiris explored various genres, including poetry, essays, and diaries, always focusing on the investigation of his own psyche and the relationship between the individual and society. He also served as a curator at the Musée de l'Homme and was a member of the Académie Française.