Surrealism

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Art characterized by the use of dreamlike imagery and the exploration of the subconscious mind, developed in Europe during the 1920s and 1930s.

Origins of Surrealism: The historical and cultural background that led to the emergence of surrealism as a movement in the early 20th century.
Andre Breton and Surrealist Manifestos: The role of Andre Breton, the founder of the surrealist movement, and the various manifestos that he created to define and promote the movement's principles.
Freudian Psychoanalysis: The influence of Sigmund Freud's theories of the unconscious mind and dream interpretation on surrealist art and literature.
Automatism: The technique of automatic drawing and writing that was used by surrealist artists to tap into the unconscious mind and create spontaneous, unfiltered works of art.
Surrealist Painting: The styles, techniques, and themes used in surrealist painting, including the use of biomorphic forms, distorted perspectives, and paradoxical imagery.
Surrealist Photography: The use of photography in surrealism, including photomontage, superimposition, and multiple exposures to create dreamlike and unpredictable images.
Surrealist Film: The use of film as a medium for surrealism, including the work of filmmakers such as Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali.
Surrealist Literature: The themes, styles, and techniques used in surrealist literature, including automatic writing, collage, and the use of dream imagery.
Politics and Surrealism: The political context in which surrealism emerged, as well as the political ideas and activism associated with the movement.
Legacy and Impact of Surrealism: The influence of surrealism on later art movements, as well as its lasting impact on popular culture and the contemporary art world.
Automatism Surrealism: Also known as "automatic drawing" or "psychic automatism," automatism refers to free-flowing, uncontrolled movements deployed to produce artworks without conscious forethought.
Veristic Surrealism: Focused on keeping the drawings realistic but with a hint of Surrealism present in them.
Abstract Surrealism: Representations of shapes and objects are abstracted, manipulated and otherwise distorted and displaced to create an abstract composition.
Double image Surrealism: Uses optical illusions and visual trickery to create "double images" or hidden images.
Dream Surrealism: Involves the representation of dream-like scenes, often resembling nightmares.
Cosmic Surrealism: The combination of cosmic forces and imagery in a surreal style.
Macabre Surrealism: Focuses on exploring the darker, more disturbing themes of unconsciousness.
Erotic Surrealism: Uses sensuality and eroticism as a central theme in works of art.
Metamorphic Surrealism: Utilizes and exaggerates morphing forms to the extreme in order to explore movement and transformation.
Surrealism of Scenic landscapes: Depicts realistically rendered, dreamy and fantastical landscapes.
Salvador Dalí Surrealism: The works of Salvador Dali are uniquely surreal, and famous for melting forms, symbolisms and impressionist qualities.
Quote: "Surrealism is a cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists depicted unnerving, illogical scenes and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself."
Quote: "Its aim was, according to leader André Breton, to 'resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality into an absolute reality, a super-reality', or surreality."
Quote: "However, many Surrealist artists and writers regard their work as an expression of the philosophical movement first and foremost, with the works themselves being secondary, i.e., artifacts of surrealist experimentation."
Quote: "At the time, the movement was associated with political causes such as communism and anarchism."
Quote: "It was influenced by the Dada movement of the 1910s."
Quote: "The term 'Surrealism' originated with Guillaume Apollinaire in 1917."
Quote: "The Surrealist movement was not officially established until after October 1924, when the Surrealist Manifesto published by French poet and critic André Breton succeeded in claiming the term for his group."
Quote: "The most important center of the movement was Paris, France."
Quote: "From the 1920s onward, the movement spread around the globe, impacting the visual arts, literature, film, and music of many countries and languages."
Quote: "as well as political thought and practice, philosophy, and social theory."
Quote: "when the Surrealist Manifesto published by French poet and critic André Breton succeeded in claiming the term for his group."
Quote: "It produced works of painting, writing, theatre, filmmaking, photography, and other media."
Quote: "Its aim was, according to leader André Breton, to 'resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality into an absolute reality, a super-reality.'"
Quote: "artists depicted unnerving, illogical scenes."
Quote: "and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself."
Quote: "Surrealist artists and writers regard their work as an expression of the philosophical movement first and foremost."
Quote: "Works of Surrealism feature the element of surprise, unexpected juxtapositions and non sequitur."
Quote: "resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality into an absolute reality, a super-reality.'"
Quote: "the movement was associated with political causes such as communism and anarchism."
Quote: "the movement spread around the globe, impacting the visual arts, literature, film, and music of many countries and languages, as well as political thought and practice, philosophy, and social theory."