What was surrealism? What are the characteristics?

What was surrealism?

Surrealism is an artistic and literary movement that emerged in the 1920s, led by André Breton. The aim of surrealism is to explore the unconscious and dreams through art and literature. The movement encompassed various art forms such as painting, sculpture, photography, film and theatre. Surrealism had a major impact on the development of modern art and continues to be influential.

Surrealism's favorite motifs always follow a trail of the fantastic, from medieval representations of hell to the mystical painting of Giorgio de Chirico. The aesthetics of surrealism are based on eccentric and disturbing, often morbid images, reaching unpleasant and even scatological aesthetic dimensions. As a paradigm of the aforementioned characteristics, we can remember the welcome to the public of the Surrealist Exhibition of 1936, which was received under the hysterical laughter of the inmates of an asylum or the overtly sexual and vulgar themes in Dalí's art. Previously repressed memories and desires are now unleashed through art, specifically surrealism. The images of surrealism take on sinister forms, such as masks, mannequins, masturbation, defecation, hallucinations, that is, it is an apology for the disconcerting. A cult to the shadow power of the human unconscious. And yet surrealism does not abandon poetic quality and pretense.

What were the origins of the surrealist movement?

The origin of the surrealist movement is mainly due to the French writer André Breton, who published the "Manifesto of Surrealism" in 1924. Breton was inspired by the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud's theories about the unconscious and the dream, and sought to explore these aspects through art and of literature.
The movement emerged as a reaction against the dominant rationalism and classicism of the time, and sought to free the artist from the constraints imposed by reason and tradition. Surrealist aesthetics are characterized by dreamlike and irrational elements, such as strange and absurd imagery, and use techniques such as automation and automatic writing to explore the unconscious.
In addition, the movement also had political roots, as some artists and writers were inspired by anarchism and Marxism. The movement quickly spread to several countries in Europe and South America, and had a lasting impact on art, literature and culture.

Surrealist theory and thought

In the First Surrealist Manifesto, André Breton defines surrealism as "pure psychic automatism, by which one tries to express the true functioning of thought, without the regulatory intervention of reason, alien to any aesthetic and moral concern". In both this and other surrealist theoretical essays, André Breton extols the importance of the subconscious and the validity of Freud's interpretation of dreams to deliver a message that would later covet internationally: art is truly free when it is not under the yoke of reason. Only through the free association of ideas and dreams can the ultimate goal of art be achieved. It should be noted that André Breton was in contact with the theory of psychoanalysis when he volunteered at the front of the Second World War. For this reason, they claimed that the unconscious was the guarantee of reviving post-war culture and establishing a new artistic discourse with surrealism. Furthermore, Breton also recognizes his debt to the Count of Lautréamont, a French poet of the 19th century, who wrote in his lifetime what became the motto of surrealism: "Beautiful as the chance meeting of a sewing machine and a guard -rain on a dissecting table". The theory of surrealism would influence art in the decades that followed, leaving behind a very original figurative language. Perhaps that is why it has survived to this day.

What are the characteristics of the surrealism movement?

Key characteristics of the Surrealist movement include:

1. Exploration of the unconscious: Surrealism seeks to explore the unconscious and dreams through art and literature, using techniques such as automation and automatic writing.
2. Strange and absurd images: Surrealist aesthetics are characterized by strange and absurd images, which defy the conventions of logic and reason.
3. Use of Symbols and Metaphors: The Surrealist movement often uses symbols and metaphors to represent abstract concepts or subjective ideas.
4. Creative freedom: The movement sought to free the artist from the restrictions imposed by reason and tradition, allowing free and spontaneous expression.
5. Contrast between reality and dream: Surrealism often features a fusion between elements of the real world and dreamlike elements, creating a contrast between reality and dream.
6. Political and social themes: The movement also had political roots, and some artists and writers drew inspiration from anarchism and Marxism.
7. Representation of unconscious desires and fears: The surrealist movement believes that the unconscious is the place where our deepest desires and fears are found, and these elements are often represented in works.

Leading Artists of the Surrealist Movement

1. Salvador Dalí: one of the best known surrealist artists, Salvador Dalí is famous for his paintings with strange and absurd images, like the relógio melted in "The Persistence of Memory".
2. Max Ernst: stood out for his paintings, sculptures and engravings, where he used automatic and collage techniques.
3. René Magritte: Known for his paintings that present ironic and enigmatic images, such as the man with a pipe in front of his face in "The betrayal of images".
4. Frida Kahlo: was a Mexican artist, known primarily for her self-portrait paintings that reflect her personal life and experiences.
5. Joan Miró: became known for his abstract paintings and sculptures, which mix elements of nature and popular culture.
6. Yves Tanguy: known for his paintings with unrealistic landscapes and strange figures, which seem to float in space.
7. Man Ray: known for his photographs and sculptures, which explore the relationship between form and light.

In addition to these artists, there were other artists who contributed significantly to the surrealist movement, such as Frida Kahlo, André Masson, Leonora Carrington, Leonor Fini, among others.

Major Works of the Surrealist Movement

1. "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dalí: An iconic painting that features melting clocks in a strange and surreal landscape.
2. "The betrayal of images" by René Magritte: A painting that shows a man with a pipe in front of his face, questioning the relationship between image and reality.
3. "Mama, Papa Is Wounded!" by Yves Tanguy: This painting evokes a post-apocalyptic desert through its vast surface and light. The work of the great surrealist artist Giorgio de Chirico was inspired in this painting through the objects that fly and project their dark shadows on the surface.
4. "The Kiss" by Max Ernst: A painting that shows a kiss between two strange beings, with dreamlike and irrational elements.
5. "The Red Sun" by Joan Miró: A painting that shows a sun floating red in the sky, surrounded by other elements.
6. "Le Violon d'Ingres" by Man Ray, is a black and white photograph created in 1924. It is one of his best known photographs and surrealist photography. The image was first published in the surrealist magazine Littérature in June 1924.

These works are just a few examples of the many important creations produced by the Surrealist movement, which continues to influence art and culture to this day.