SURREALISMBy Maddy and Julia

What is Surrealism ?o A movement in which imagination rules.

An art movement in which a persons dreams, nightmares, subconsciousness and fantasy inspire the final works.

"Although the dream is a very strange phenomenon and an inexplicable mystery, far more inexplicable is the mystery and aspect our minds confer on certain objects and aspects of life.” G.de Chirico

Significant Artists involved!• André Breton 1896-1966• Salvador Dali 1904-1989• Sigmund Freud 1856-1939• Max Ernst 1891-1976• Giorgio de Chirico 1888-1978• René Magritte 1898-1967• Pablo Picasso 1881-1973• Alberto Giacometti 1901-1966• Joan Miro 1893-1983• Frida Kahlo 1907-1954

The two types of Surrealism

Veristic Surrealists

• Believed Subconscious images had meanings.

• Thought that artworks were like metaphors.

• More realistic compared to >

• Believed that the language of the subconscious world was in the form of an image.

• all about MEANING.

Automatists• Art work focused on

feeling, less investigative.

• Did not believe that art had meanings behind them and so should not be interpreted.

• Believed Abstract art was the only way to convey images.

• Much like the Dadaists• All about FEELINGS.

Automatists…

Andre MassonBattle of the fishes 1927 <<

Joan MiroThe beautiful bird revealing the unknown to the lovers 1941 >>

The Veristic Surrealists

Rene MagritteThe unexpected Answer <<

Rene MagritteThe son of a man >>

Main Characteristics of Surrealist artwork• Element of surprise• Free association• Uncensored thought• Dream like subject

matter• Dream like imagery• Distorted objects• Cooler colours• Unrealistic scales• Reversal of natural laws• Repetition of an image

• No guidelines• Hidden Images• Juxtaposition• Very simple titles • Levitation• Transparency• Displacement of an

object• Exaggeration• Contradicting images

Examples…

Rene MagritteLa Chambre Decoute 1952<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Characteristics of unrealistic scales, exaggeration and juxtaposition. Rene Magritte

Golconde 1952>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Characteristics of reversal of natural laws, repetition of an object, levitation

Andre Breton/Dada Movement

The start of Surrealism

Dada Movement• Artists responded to the world they lived in and

expressed their horror and discomfort with the current state of social and political affairs. (e.g. WW1)

• Shaped by the pain and destruction of war.• Wanted to show everyone that war was not right…

and reveal a painful truth.

Andre Breton…

o André Breton (Pope of Surrealism)o 19th Feb 1896-28 September 1966o Ex-member of Dada group, Founder of Surrealismo Drafted the Surrealist Manifesto in 1924o Believed in art as a anti-war protest

Sigmund Freud 1856-1939The father of psychoanalysis. The influencer of Surrealism

Interesting Fact:He published the interpretation of dreams in the 1900’s

How has surrealism influenced the art World• Surrealism has introduced us to new possibilities, and

a unimaginable world. Surrealist artworks suck us into worlds that are distorted, compared to the one we now. It has opened our eyes to new possibilities that things can be different, wacky, bizarre and surreal.

• Surrealism has changed our world. Today, many commercials and movies involve surrealistic imagery which really shows that surrealism is used World Wide.

• Opened the doors to a unseen movement.• Surrealism has influenced many other art movements

such as Pop art, Abstract Expressionism, Conceptualism and post modernist art.

Bibliography• Ebdrup, N 2012, Surrealism is mind-boggling, ScienceNordic, accessed 30

October 2012, <http://sciencenordic.com/surrealism-mind-boggling>.• L, T 2007, Influences in the life of Salvador Dali, H2g2, accessed 30 October

2012, <http://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A585344>.• Toothman, J, 2010, How Salvador Dali Worked, Howstuffworks.com, accessed 30

October, 2012. <http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/salvador-dali.htm>

• Red's, P 2009, Dada and Surrealism, Hubpages, accessed 28 October 2012, <http://redsperspective.hubpages.com/hub/Dada-and-Surrealism>.

• Rijckaert, C 2012, Surrealism which changed the world, EuropePost, accessed 30 October 2012, <http://www.europost.bg/article?id=3727>.

• Salvador Dali 2009, The surrealists, accessed 30 October 2012, <http://www.surrealists.co.uk/dali.php>.

• Surrealism 2010, ArtStory, accessed 30 October 2012, <http://www.theartstory.org/movement-surrealism.htm>.

• What is Surrealism Art 2011, Lifestyl, accessed 30 October 2012, <http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/surrealism-art-13192.html>.

More….books

• Ades, D 1995, Dali, Thames and Hudson, London. 

• Bolton, L 2002, Surrealism, Henimann, Oxford. 

• Radford, R 1997, Dali, Phaidon, London. • Waldberg, P 1997, Surrealism, Thames and

Hudson, New York. 

 

Probably the most famous artist of the 20th century, after Picasso

Salvador DaliHis images release fantasy and

the play of imagination…

“ The only difference between a madman and me is that I am not mad”

What/Who influenced Dali?

• Salvador Dali greatly admired

Sigmund Freud

• Sigmund Freud didn’t support

the Surrealists and thought of

them as complete fools but was

impressed with Dali’s skills.

• Salvador Dali made Freud think

that it might be interesting to

analyse a painting.

• Vermeer and Velasquez-17th

century influences of Dali. He

liked their painting styles.

• Italian artist, Giorgio de Chirico

and his dreamlike but precise

style influenced Dali’s work.

DOB: 11 May 1904, Figures Spain. DOD: 23 Jan 1989Full name: Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech

What makes DALI’s work distinctive?

• Fascinated by the

Paranoiac critical

method.

• Highly detailed, imaginary or distorted figures and objects in impossible landscapes.• His paintings often included ants, food, cherries, eggs, teeth, melons, watches, drawers, mutilation instruments, and double images. ( paranoiac critical method)• Oozing pocket watches, Expansive landscapes, melting body parts placed on crutches, thin legged elephants looking as if their about to fall are all among distinctive features used to distinguish Dali’s artworks.

How is his work typical of the Surrealists?

• Both the Dadaists and the surrealists showed their feelings and hatred towards the war although the surrealists were less violent. In 1936, when the Spanish civil war began Salvador Dali showed his feelings and horror of the civil war through his piece known as ‘Autumn Cannibalism’

• Both Dali and the other surrealists left viewers with a confused sensation with their odd and surreal artworks.

How did DALI change the Art world?

• Salvador Dali brought new wacky and crazy possibilities to the art world.• Inspired others to stand up for themselves, and express themselves in their own way.• Redefined boundaries of Art, fashion and culture. • His melting watches, space elephants and Mae We lips sofa have become popular advertising symbols.• As mentioned earlier, Dali uses symbols in his art and has meanings behind his artwork making us wonder about what each of his works mean. Many artists today are not afraid of expressing themselves, and paint whatever they like with true meanings behind them. Some are personal, and some aren’t. Salvador Dali brought new possibilities to the world and has inspired many other artists to just be themselves.

Examples of DALI’s work…