Surrealism was renowned for its strange dream-like representations. Artists belonging to this cultural movement were notorious for juxtaposing paradoxical subject matter. Such is the painting ‘a Son of Man’. We are use to seeing appleas interpreted in still ife’s but covering the face of a suited man is unique and novel.
Rene Magritte – Son of Man
Many who were not familiar with the Surrealists during their era, may have been taken aback by the outrageousness if they were not already familiar with other avant-garde work. Yet surrealism touches upon a topic that, throughout the history of mankind, has not been explored. That of the mind and especially dreams. The artwork below by Miro certainly strikes us as dream-like due to its randomness.
Joan Miro – The tiled Field
Much of the artwork generated by the surrealists were influenced by the writings of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, amongst. Ultimately Surrealism is all about the exploration of the mind and the psychology of the human condition. Salvador Dali’s art is particularly dedicated to this study. The Persistence of Memory serves as a visual metaphor for time. It suggest ants as death and related them to time. That time, which melts, like wax, and slip away from us.
Salvador Dali – The Persistence of Memory
Many writers of the period were involved as well. In fact, the movement was founded by Andre Breton who was a key figure in bring artists together under the same banner. Andre was to write the Surrealist Manifesto in 1924. The photographer, Man Ray, is famous for taking this beautiful and surreal photograph, juxtaposing the female figure, likening it to a violin.
Man Ray – Violon d’Ingres
Max Ernst – The Elephant Celebes
A hybrid between Surrealism and Dada, this painting was painted by Ernst in 1921. This was a tumultuous time, between two world wards and during the great depression. There was a lot of radical politcal and economics change and this painting, I feel, illustrates the underlying effects. The mechanical elements of the elephant, mixed with the greys and a naked, broken figure of humiliation reflects the mood and attitudes towards the time.
Contextual Influences 