4.5 Surrealist groups and movements

Surrealism emerged in 1920s Paris as a revolutionary movement exploring the unconscious mind. It rejected rationalism, embraced Dada's techniques, and was led by André Breton, who wrote the First Surrealist Manifesto in 1924 defining the movement's principles.

Surrealism spread globally, forming distinct regional groups and developing unique techniques like automatic writing and exquisite corpse. It influenced various art forms, engaged with political ideologies, and continues to impact contemporary art and culture through Neo-Surrealism and popular media.

Origins of Surrealism

• Emerged as a revolutionary artistic and intellectual movement in Paris during the 1920s
• Sought to liberate the unconscious mind and explore the irrational aspects of human experience
• Developed as a reaction against rationalism and realism in art and literature

Influence of Dada

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• Inherited Dada's rejection of traditional artistic values and conventions
• Embraced Dada's use of chance and randomness in artistic creation
• Moved beyond Dada's nihilism towards a more constructive approach to exploring the unconscious
• Incorporated Dada techniques (collage, photomontage) into Surrealist practices

André Breton's role

• Founded the Surrealist movement and served as its primary theorist and leader
• Wrote the First Surrealist Manifesto in 1924, defining the movement's goals and principles
• Organized Surrealist group activities, exhibitions, and publications
• Developed key Surrealist concepts (automatic writing, objective chance)
• Expelled members who deviated from his vision of Surrealism

First Surrealist Manifesto

• Published by André Breton in 1924, marking the official birth of Surrealism
• Defined Surrealism as "pure psychic automatism" to express thought without rational control
• Emphasized the importance of dreams, the unconscious, and the irrational in artistic creation
• Called for a revolution in art, literature, and society through Surrealist practices
• Listed early Surrealist members and their contributions to the movement

Key Surrealist groups

• Surrealism spread beyond its Parisian origins to form distinct regional groups
• Each group developed unique characteristics while maintaining core Surrealist principles
• International collaborations and exchanges between groups enriched the movement

Paris Surrealist group

• Centered around André Breton and considered the original Surrealist group
• Included prominent artists and writers (Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, Paul Éluard)
• Organized influential exhibitions and publications (La Révolution Surréaliste)
• Engaged in political activism and collaborated with Communist organizations
• Developed key Surrealist techniques and concepts (automatic writing, exquisite corpse)

Belgian Surrealist group

• Formed in Brussels in 1926, led by Paul Nougé and René Magritte
• Emphasized visual art over literature, unlike the Paris group
• Developed a distinct style characterized by mysterious and enigmatic imagery
• Explored themes of language, perception, and the relationship between objects and words
• Produced influential works (Magritte's "The Treachery of Images")

Czech Surrealist group

• Established in Prague in 1934, led by Karel Teige and Vítězslav Nezval
• Integrated Surrealism with local avant-garde traditions and political activism
• Produced significant works in poetry, visual arts, and film
• Survived Nazi occupation and continued underground during Communist rule
• Influenced later generations of Czech artists and writers

Surrealist techniques

• Surrealists developed various methods to access the unconscious and create art
• These techniques aimed to bypass rational thought and unleash creativity
• Many Surrealist techniques became influential in modern art and psychology

Automatic writing

• Involved writing without conscious control or premeditation
• Aimed to reveal the unconscious mind and produce unexpected associations
• Practiced by writers (André Breton, Philippe Soupault) and visual artists
• Resulted in stream-of-consciousness texts and spontaneous drawings
• Influenced later literary movements (Beat Generation, stream of consciousness)

Exquisite corpse

• Collaborative drawing or writing game invented by Surrealists
• Participants take turns adding to a composition without seeing previous contributions
• Produced unexpected and often bizarre results
• Explored collective creativity and the power of chance
• Adapted for various media (visual art, poetry, music)

Frottage and grattage

• Frottage involved rubbing pencil or crayon over paper placed on textured surfaces
• Grattage applied frottage techniques to painted canvases
• Developed by Max Ernst to produce unexpected textures and forms
• Allowed artists to incorporate random elements into their work
• Influenced the development of abstract art techniques

International spread

• Surrealism expanded globally, adapting to different cultural contexts
• International Surrealist exhibitions promoted the movement worldwide
• Local artists incorporated Surrealist ideas into their own cultural traditions

Surrealism in America

• Introduced through exhibitions and European artists fleeing World War II
• Influenced American artists (Joseph Cornell, Dorothea Tanning, Yves Tanguy)
• Contributed to the development of Abstract Expressionism
• Impacted American popular culture and advertising
• Established Surrealist-inspired art colonies (Sedona, Arizona)

Surrealism in Japan

• Introduced in the 1920s through translations of Surrealist literature
• Developed unique characteristics influenced by Japanese aesthetics and traditions
• Produced significant artists (Kansuke Yamamoto, Taro Okamoto)
• Explored themes of eroticism, dreams, and social critique
• Influenced postwar Japanese avant-garde movements

Surrealism in Latin America

• Spread through exhibitions and European artists visiting the region
• Adapted Surrealist ideas to explore local cultural and political issues
• Produced influential artists (Frida Kahlo, Roberto Matta, Wifredo Lam)
• Incorporated indigenous mythologies and magical realism
• Influenced the development of Latin American magical realist literature

Surrealist movements

• Surrealism encompassed various sub-movements and artistic approaches
• These movements explored different aspects of the unconscious and reality
• Each movement contributed unique techniques and aesthetics to Surrealism

Veristic Surrealism

• Focused on creating highly detailed, realistic depictions of dream-like scenes
• Aimed to paint "hand-painted dream photographs"
• Represented by artists like Salvador Dalí and René Magritte
• Employed techniques of trompe l'oeil and photorealism
• Explored themes of metamorphosis, displacement, and juxtaposition

Automatism

• Emphasized spontaneous, uncontrolled creation to access the unconscious
• Applied to various media (writing, drawing, painting)
• Practiced by artists like André Masson and Joan Miró
• Resulted in abstract or semi-abstract compositions
• Influenced the development of Abstract Expressionism and action painting

Biomorphism

• Focused on creating abstract forms inspired by biological shapes and processes
• Explored the connection between nature, the unconscious, and artistic creation
• Represented by artists like Jean Arp and Yves Tanguy
• Influenced the development of organic abstraction in modern art
• Incorporated elements of chance and automatism in the creative process

Surrealism and politics

• Surrealism was deeply intertwined with political ideologies and movements
• Many Surrealists saw their art as a tool for social and political revolution
• Political affiliations and conflicts shaped the development of Surrealism

Communism and Surrealism

• Many Surrealists aligned themselves with Communist ideals in the 1920s and 1930s
• Saw Communism as a means to achieve social and artistic revolution
• Collaborated with Communist organizations and publications
• Tensions arose between artistic freedom and party discipline
• Some Surrealists (Louis Aragon) fully embraced Communist ideology

Trotskyism and Breton

• André Breton met Leon Trotsky in Mexico in 1938
• Collaborated on the manifesto "For an Independent Revolutionary Art"
• Advocated for artistic freedom within socialist revolution
• Breton's Trotskyist stance led to conflicts with Stalinist Communists
• Influenced the political direction of Surrealism in the late 1930s and 1940s

Surrealism during WWII

• Many Surrealists fled Europe to escape Nazi occupation
• Continued Surrealist activities in exile (New York, Mexico)
• Explored themes of war, violence, and displacement in their work
• Some Surrealists joined resistance movements
• Post-war Surrealism addressed trauma and reconstruction

Neo-Surrealism

• Refers to the continuation and evolution of Surrealist ideas after World War II
• Adapted Surrealist techniques and themes to new cultural and artistic contexts
• Influenced various contemporary art movements and popular culture

Post-war developments

• Surrealism's influence spread to Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art
• New generations of artists reinterpreted Surrealist ideas (Magritte's late work)
• Exploration of new media and technologies in Surrealist-inspired art
• Incorporation of existentialist and psychoanalytic theories
• Emergence of Surrealist-influenced movements (Magic Realism, Fantastic Realism)

Contemporary Surrealist groups

• Formation of new Surrealist groups in various countries
• Continuation of Surrealist practices and principles
• Adaptation of Surrealism to address contemporary issues
• Use of digital technologies and social media for Surrealist activities
• Organization of international Surrealist exhibitions and conferences

Influence on popular culture

• Surrealist imagery and concepts in advertising and graphic design
• Impact on fashion (Elsa Schiaparelli, Alexander McQueen)
• Influence on music videos and album art
• Surrealist elements in film and television (David Lynch, Tim Burton)
• Incorporation of Surrealist ideas in video games and virtual reality experiences

Surrealism in other arts

• Surrealism expanded beyond visual arts to influence various artistic disciplines
• Surrealist principles and techniques were adapted to different media
• Cross-pollination between Surrealism and other art forms enriched the movement

Surrealist cinema

• Developed unique visual language to represent dreams and the unconscious
• Pioneered by filmmakers like Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí
• Employed non-linear narratives and symbolic imagery
• Explored themes of desire, repression, and social critique
• Influenced experimental and art house cinema (Jean Cocteau, David Lynch)

Surrealist theatre

• Challenged conventional theatrical forms and narratives
• Incorporated elements of dreams, automatism, and the absurd
• Represented by playwrights like Antonin Artaud and Roger Vitrac
• Developed the concept of the "Theatre of Cruelty"
• Influenced later avant-garde theatre movements (Theatre of the Absurd)

Surrealist literature

• Expanded beyond automatic writing to explore various literary forms
• Produced significant works of poetry, novels, and essays
• Represented by writers like André Breton, Louis Aragon, and Paul Éluard
• Explored themes of love, revolution, and the marvelous
• Influenced later literary movements (Beat Generation, magical realism)

Criticism and legacy

• Surrealism faced various critiques and challenges throughout its history
• The movement's impact extended far beyond its original context
• Surrealist ideas continue to influence contemporary art and culture

Feminist critiques

• Criticized male-dominated nature of Surrealist groups
• Challenged objectification of women in Surrealist art
• Highlighted contributions of female Surrealist artists (Leonora Carrington, Dorothea Tanning)
• Explored feminist reinterpretations of Surrealist themes and techniques
• Influenced development of feminist art movements

Surrealism vs Abstract Expressionism

• Surrealism influenced early Abstract Expressionist artists
• Abstract Expressionism moved away from Surrealist figuration towards pure abstraction
• Debates arose over the role of the unconscious in artistic creation
• Some artists (Arshile Gorky, Jackson Pollock) bridged both movements
• Surrealism's emphasis on automatism found new expression in action painting

Lasting impact on modern art

• Expanded definition of art to include unconscious and irrational elements
• Influenced development of various art movements (Pop Art, Conceptual Art)
• Surrealist techniques adopted in art therapy and psychological practices
• Continued relevance in addressing contemporary social and political issues
• Legacy preserved through museums, exhibitions, and ongoing scholarly research