Surrealism is an artistic movement that emerged in the early 20th century. It was a radical reaction to the events of the time, including the devastation of World War I, the rise of fascism and communism, and the growing anxiety about the human mind and its relationship to reality. Surrealist painters sought to challenge the viewer by creating works of art that were beyond reality, merging the unconscious mind with reality.
Surrealism is often associated with the work of Salvador Dali, who is known for his melting clock images and dream-like landscapes. However, the movement was much broader than one artist’s output. Artists who were part of the movement sought to create works of art that reflected their defiance of traditional artistic conventions, which were seen as being too rigid.
Surrealism was itself a reaction against the established art movements at the time, including Impressionism and Cubism. The movement’s founders believed that traditional art was too grounded in the physical world and that they needed to expand their horizons in order to explore the surreal and the otherworldly.
The Surrealist movement was characterised by the use of unexpected and surprising juxtapositions of images and objects, with the aim of challenging the viewer’s perceptions of reality. The movement celebrated the unconscious mind, using images, colours and form to create works that were both enigmatic and provocative.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of Surrealism was the exploration of the unconscious mind. Surrealist artists sought to tap into the deeper workings of the brain, exploring themes such as sexuality, violence and death. They did so through a range of artistic techniques, including automatic drawing, which was created without conscious thought, and dreams.
Surrealism was also inspired by the idea of the ‘exquisite corpse’, a game where people would ad-lib sentences to create a surreal and disjointed story. Many Surrealist artists took this idea and translated it into their art, creating works that were composed of several different parts that seemed unconnected.
Surrealism was also influenced by the scientific discoveries of the time, particularly in the fields of psychology and biology. Freud’s idea of the unconscious mind, in particular, was incredibly influential, with many artists using dreams and the unconscious to inform their work.
In summary, Surrealism was an artistic movement that sought to express a radical and innovative form of art. The movement wanted to explore the boundaries of reality, particularly the unconscious mind, and create works of art that were both enigmatic and provocative. Through the use of unexpected images, colours and form, Surrealist artists aimed to challenge the viewer’s perceptions and create works that would be remembered for their radical nature.
