Surealism is type of art that depicts images from another realm.
Surrealism art is a school of art that depicts emotions gleaned from the subconscious mind or fantasy. Its imagery may have little or no resemblance to actual people, places or objects in the tangible world. It is rather an expression of the paranormal or the artist's internal reality. This type of art began in Europe in the1920s.
History of Surealism Art
The surrealism movement started in Pari, flourished in Europe and came to the United States before being declared dead by the art world in 1941. Surrealism had its roots in abstract art. It followed the Dada movement, which began as the World War I ended. Dada leader Tristan Tazara saw his movement as a rebellious social statement that attacked art as it has been known.The surrealists art movement, lead by a French doctor named Andre Breton, had its basis in psychiatry, most notably the works of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. The psychoanalytical teachings of Freud and Jung were catalysts for art that depicted an inner or collective state of consciousness.
Automatism and Veristic Surrealism
Artists and patrons of surrealism identified with different aspects and interpretations. According to Surrealism.org they divided themselves into followers of distinct groups known as automatism and veristic surrealism Followers of Freud and Jung comprised the basis of both groups. Jungians favored automatism that seemed to express Carl Jung's view of the collective unconscious whose images we should accept without judgment.
Automatists were more about feeling rather than the analytical thinking. Veristic surrealists, who preferred Freudian analysis, believed art images represented a link between abstract realities and the material world.They sought to analyze the meaning behind the images created.
Dali and Picasso
Two of the most famous Surrealism painters took different approaches to their art. Dali embraced the concept of studying the subconscious images his art produced. He favored veristic surrealism and appeared to concur with Freud's belief that a dream not interpreted is like a letter that is not opened. By contrast Picasso was more influenced by the previous Dada movement and automatism. He didn't believe in analyzing images, preferring to focus instead on spontaneously creating them.
Famous Surrealists
While Dali and Picasso achieved extreme fame, several other famous surrealism artists include Max Ernst and Joan Miro. German-born Ernst (1891-1976) was a follower of Dada before embracing surrealism. He is famous for the technique known as frottage a form of pencil rubbing.
According to Surealism. org, surrealism leader Andre Breton referred to Spanish artist Joan Miro (1893-1983) as the most surrealist of us all. Miro was known for his use of sexual symbols.
Notable Surrealist Art
An iconic painting by Salvador Dali titled The Persistence of Memory is perhaps his most notable work. It depicts clocks melting, reflecting the belief that time is meaningless. Dali's Female wtih a Head of Flowers is also one of his easily identifiable pieces. French surrealist Rene Magritte (1898-1967) contributed L'homme au Chapeau Melon, which is well known for the depiction of man with a bowler hat, with a dove flying in front of his face.
