An artistic and literary movement led by French poet André Breton from 1924 through World War II. Drawing on the psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud, the Surrealists sought to overthrow what they perceived as the oppressive rationalism of modern society by accessing the sur réalisme (superior reality) of the subconscious. In his 1924 “Surrealist Manifesto,” Breton argued for an uninhibited mode of expression derived from the mind’s involuntary mechanisms, particularly dreams, and called on artists to explore the uncharted depths of the imagination with radical new methods and visual forms. These ranged from abstract “automatic” drawings to hyper-realistic painted scenes inspired by dreams and nightmares to uncanny combinations of materials and objects.
Surrealism
8 examples
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Max Ernst Two Children Are Threatened by a Nightingale (Deux Enfants sont menacés par un rossignol) 1924
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André Masson Battle of Fishes 1926
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Cadavre Exquis, Yves Tanguy, Joan Miró, Max Morise, Man Ray (Emmanuel Radnitzky) Nude 1926–27
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René Magritte The Menaced Assassin Brussels 1927
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Salvador Dalí The Persistence of Memory 1931
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Alberto Giacometti The Palace at 4 a.m. 1932
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Meret Oppenheim Object Paris, 1936
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Man Ray (Emmanuel Radnitzky) Indestructible Object (or Object to Be Destroyed) 1964 (replica of 1923 original)
Magazine
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Resources
Make Your Own Exquisite Corpse
Find creative inspiration with the Surrealist art game.Nov 18, 2020 -
Hounding the Mad Beast of Function
A book excerpt, audio, and a podcast delve into Meret Oppenheim’s fur-covered cup.Nov 18, 2020 -
Safe Passage
Discover the extraordinary story of how one woman, Margaret Scolari Barr, helped MoMA save artist refugees during World War II.Nov 17, 2020 -
For families
Unreal, Mysterious, Strange
Explore the dreamlike art of the Surrealists with these art activities for kids and families.Nov 12, 2020 -
New to MoMA
Leonora Carrington and the Visual Language of Mexican Surrealism
Two new acquisitions display the artist’s interest in the occult.Feb 19, 2020 -
Poetry Project
The Impossible Lesbian Love Object(s)
Brenda Shaughnessy gives voice to Meret Oppenheim’s Object.Nov 5, 2019 -
MoMA Menu
Surreal Supper
A weekly taste of food-inspired works from MoMA's collection.Oct 9, 2019 -
New to MoMA
Remedios Varo’s The Juggler (The Magician)
How will this new addition to MoMA’s collection shake up conversation in the galleries?Jan 18, 2019