Surrealism (Landscape)

Historical Context...

Surrealist landscape tapped into a different source for imagery; the subconscious mind. The landscapes shown here reflect the strange and mysterious imagery of dreams, myth, and fantasy meaning that geological elements such as mountain, hills or valleys are unrecognizable.

The Persistence of Memory is a 1931 painting by the artist Salvador Dalí, and is one of his most recognizable pieces. The dripping clocks reflect the inner workings of Dali’s subconscious and conveys a simple message which is 'time as we know it is meaningless'. This painting was first shown at the Julien Levy Gallery in 1932 but since 1934 the painting has been in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí

André Breton

Officially consecrated in Paris in 1924 with the publication of the Manifesto of Surrealism. Surrealism became an international intellectual and political movement. He is known best as the co- founder, leader, principal theorist and chief apologist of Surrealism.

Breton attended medical school where he developed a particular interest in mental illness. His education was interrupted when he was drafted for World War I. He emigrated to New York City and lived there for a few years. In 1942, Breton organised a groundbreaking Surrealist exhibition at Yale University.

Breton was particularly interested in materials from the northwest coast of North America.

Dadaism

Dadaism was a big influence on Surrealism during the First World War and the movement was most effective in Paris, France at this time. From the 1920s onward, the movement spread around the globe, eventually affecting the visual arts, literature, film, and music of many countries and languages, as well as political thought and practice, philosophy, and social theory.

The Top 4 Surrealist Painters

Max Ernst (France/Germany)

Méret Elisabeth Oppenheim (Germany /Switzerland)

René Magritte (Belgium)

Yves Tanguy (France)

Click on each picture to find out more about the artist.

Artist Study

Max Ernst

Born, 2 April 1891, Died 1 April 1976.
Job, he was a German naturalised American in 1948, and in 1958 a French painter, sculptor, graphic artist, and poet. A prolific artist, Ernst was a primary pioneer of the Dada movement and Surrealism.
Background Experience, he had no formal artistic training, but his experimental attitude toward the making of art resulted in his invention of 'Frottage' and 'Grattage' .
Frottage is a technique or process of taking a rubbing from an uneven surface to form the basis of a work of art.
Grattage is a surrealist painting technique that involves laying a canvas prepared with a layer of oil paint over a textured object and then scraping the paint off to create an interesting and unexpected surface.

What Is Surrealism, and why is it important?

Here is a video to go over what surrealism is.

Surrealism – What Is That? | Tate Kids What is Surrealism? Find out with this art film, includes homework help and facts for kids about Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and Dorothea Tanning.

What is it?

The movement’s principal aim was ‘to resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality into an absolute reality, a super-reality’.

Why is it important?

Surrealism allows us to see art in it's purest form because it stems from imagination rather than rational thought. This means that, artists are able to better express their emotions and thoughts through this art form. It is creative and imaginative.

Now you know more...

What do you think?

Learn how to create a surreal landscape...

Recreating images...

Surrealism Image by Harriet on Photoshop

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