The Unconscious and uncanny: Surrealism
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What is surrealism?
an artistic and literary movement that emerged in the early 20th century, characterized by its exploration of the unconscious mind and its juxtaposition of dreamlike imagery with reality. Influenced by psychoanalysis, surrealists sought to unleash the creative potential of the subconscious through techniques such as automatism and dream analysis. Surrealism can be identified from automatic drawings, juxtaposition and transformation, and symbolism
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a photomontage showcasing the Surrealist movement's fascination with automatic writing, depicting the subconscious mind's spontaneous expression. Through this collage technique, Breton blends disparate images to evoke dream-like narratives, reflecting Surrealism's exploration of the unconscious and its rejection of conventional reality.
André Breton, Automatic Writing, self-portrait, 1938. Photomontage.
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Employing elements of Surrealism, Giacometti renders a haunting and fragmented figure, exploring themes of violence and existential angst. The Surrealism comes from the pieces unique tranformation of objects into how one normally percieves them.
Alberto Giacometti, Woman with her Throat Cut, 1932. bronze. 8 x 34 x 25”.
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a photomontage exemplifying Dadaist principles. Using found images, Hausmann constructs a surreal composition, reflecting the Dada movement's rejection of conventional aesthetics and embrace of absurdity. this surrealism can be seen through subversions of reality.
Raoul Hausmann, Tatlin at Home,
1920. Photomontage
1920. Photomontage
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This experimental photograph, reflecting Surrealist principles, juxtaposes light and shadow to create an otherworldly, dreamlike atmosphere, encapsulating the movement's exploration of the subconscious.
Man Ray, Andre Breton, 1930.
solarized gelatin silver print
solarized gelatin silver print
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Surrealist style, utilizing the rayogram technique to create an enigmatic composition in gelatin silver print, exploring the interplay of light and shadow in a captivating and mysterious dreamlike manner
Man Ray, untitled, 1922.
(Rayogram) gelatin silver print
(Rayogram) gelatin silver print
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characterized by surrealistic imagery and abstract expressionism, depicting a chaotic struggle between aquatic creatures. Through a blend of ink, pencil, and collage elements, Masson explores the subconscious and the primal forces of nature." The surrealism in the painting can be seen through both dreamlike imagery and an unnatural juxtaposition of elements as well as the use of automatism (automatic drawing)
André Masson, Battle of the Fishes, 1926. mixed media
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surrealist style with whimsical forms and bold colors. Through fluid shapes and dreamlike imagery, Miró captures the spirit of carnival festivities, inviting viewers into a playful and mysterious world." This surrealist piece applies both irregular juxtaposition and dream imagery
Joan Miró, Carnival of Harlequin, 1924-25. oil on canvas
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depicts melting clocks draped over surreal landscapes, showcasing his mastery of surrealism. Surrealist aspects can be seen through dream imagery and the unnatural transformation of the clocks.
Salvador Dalí, Persistence of Memory, 1931. 9” x 13”. Oil on canvas
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showcases their pioneering exploration of self-portraiture and gender identity through Surrealist techniques, featuring Cahun with a mirror image, blurring the lines between reality and illusion."
Claude Cahun and Marcel
Moore, untitled (Cahun with
mirror image), c. 1928. gelatin
silver print
Moore, untitled (Cahun with
mirror image), c. 1928. gelatin
silver print
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a striking example of Surrealist photography, featuring the artists in a provocative and gender-bending composition. Through the medium of gelatin silver print, they challenge societal norms and explore themes of identity and self-expression.
Claude Cahun and Marcel Mooer, Self-Portrait, 1928. Gelatin silver print
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define Paranoiac-Critical Surrealism:
The creation of a visionary reality from elements of
visions, dreams, memories and psychological or pathological distortions (the
Surrealism practiced by Salvador Dalí)
visions, dreams, memories and psychological or pathological distortions (the
Surrealism practiced by Salvador Dalí)
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define Automatic Drawing:
he process of yielding oneself to instinctive motions of the
hands, without the interference of the rational, conscious mind, as in Andre Masson’s
Battle of the Fishes.
hands, without the interference of the rational, conscious mind, as in Andre Masson’s
Battle of the Fishes.