8 curiosities you should know about surrealism
Apr 03, 2023
But what is Surrealism?
Surrealism is an artistic and literary movement that emerged in Paris in the 1920s as a reaction to the horrors of the First World War and which, therefore, is inspired by psychological and psychoanalytical theories in order to manifest the functioning of the subconscious, leaving aside any type of rational control .
Surrealist works of art are characterized by: the presence of contradictory fantasy elements , randomly associated; strange images that represent dreamlike and ambiguous landscapes; a hyperrealistic and detailed representation of shapes and volumes; the distortion of reality achieved through the sinister modification of everyday objects and, finally, by the use of experimental techniques such as collage, frottage, grattage or decalcomania.
Salvador Dalí, " Face of the Great Masturbator" , 1929
8 curiosities you should know about surrealism
- The word “surrealism” was coined by the French poet, novelist and art critic Guillaume Apollinaire in 1917.
- Surrealism developed from the Dada artistic movement, born in Zurich during the First World War to make visible the madness and horrors of the conflict.
- The Surrealism Manifesto was published in 1924 by André Breton, founder and main exponent of the movement.
- According to Artprice, Rene Magritte is the most sought-after surrealist artist in 2022.
Rene Magritte, " Therapist" , 1937
5. Although Salvador Dalí, of Spanish origin, is the most representative artist of surrealism, the movement began in France.
Salvador Dalí, Le Repos Amoureux (The Amorous Sleep), 1974
6. There are many female surrealist artists, such as Eileen Agar, Claude Cahun, Carmen Calvo , Dafne Artigot , Ana Gil Rodríguez or Carmen Pastrana
Carmen Pastrana, "Getaway", 2023
7. The title of the 59th Venice Biennale 2022 was inspired by a surrealist book by surrealist artist Leonora Carrington, called “ The Milk of Dreams ”.
8. Salvador Dalí collaborated with Walt Disney on the cult short film called ¨ Destino ¨, its production originally began in 1945, 58 years before its final conclusion.
