Surrealism

Surrealism

Surrealism started in 1924 in Paris and it emerged from Dada. It was an international and political movement. Andre Breton was one of the surrealist artists and he was inspired from Sigmund Freud. By doing like Freud used to do, Breton and other artists such as: Louis Aragon, Paul Eluard and Philippe Soupault, these artists' poetry was surprising. Max Ernst and Andre Masson were the first people to use the techniques of Surrealism. The style itself wasn't concerned to be aesthetically pleasing but more about the way of thinking and feeling.  

Salvador Dali was born in Spain in 1904 and he was mostly known for his technical skill in painting and for his vast imagination. In 1929 he joined the Surrealist movement. He was another famous Surrealist artist who moved to Paris in 1929 and made his first paintings. He uses symbols such as ants, to symbolize sexual desire.

Uncanny: Surrealism and Graphic Design was the first exhibition that Graphic Design got influences from Surrealism. The exhibition featured: posters, books, magazines and record covers. The influences started from 1930's till this very day.

Surrealism affected society by some of the painters' works. The paintings showed emotion and symbolism. In the 20th century, it was the most influential movement.

Some of the characteristics of Surrealism were: inspiration of Freud, dream is a form of reality, to interpret images of sexuality and violence, socially acceptance and traditions, 19th century influences by poets, strange, ambiguous, mysterious and uncensored.
Andre Breton was another famous Surrealist artist, he also studied medicine. He became a Surrealist in the 1920's. He wrote a manifesto to encourage free expression and it was released in 1924. Breton was originally a Dada artist.  

Bibliography:

Surrealism | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2014. Surrealism | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/surr/hd_surr.htm. [Accessed 03 December 2014].

Observatory: Design Observer. 2014. Observatory: Design Observer. [ONLINE] Available at: http://observatory.designobserver.com/rickpoynor/uncanny.html. [Accessed 03 December 2014].

Having a look at History of Graphic Design: Surrealism. 2014. Having a look at History of Graphic Design: Surrealism. [ONLINE] Available at: http://havingalookathistoryofgraphicdesign.blogspot.com/2012/11/surrealism.html. [Accessed 07 December 2014].

. 2014. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/andr%C3%A9-breton-37471. [Accessed 08 December 2014].

MoMA | The Collection | André Breton (French, 1896–1966). 2014. MoMA | The Collection | André Breton (French, 1896–1966). [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=768. [Accessed 08 December 2014].