Surrealism has an incredible legacy in art history, revolutionizing thought and perception from the ordinary to the extraordinary. This groundbreaking movement began with André Breton’s Surrealist Manifesto in 1924 and is gearing up to celebrate its 100th Anniversary in 2024! Breton described Surrealism as the fusion of dreams and reality into a super-reality—a vision enthusiastically embraced by brilliant Surrealist artists like Jean Arp, Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, Paul Klee, René Magritte, Joan Miró, and Yves Tanguy.
Surrealism's style varied from Miró's quasi-abstraction to Magritte’s realism. Initially Paris-based, it gained global traction, criticizing rationalism and societal norms post-World War I while incorporating Freud's psychoanalysis on dreams. Breton, influenced by Freud, believed the subconscious could free art through automatism, allowing thoughts to flow unimpeded. The interwar era, marked by the tension between peace and war, molded Surrealism, which transitioned into popular culture in the 1920s and ’30s. During this time, the number of self-identified Surrealists surged, with key figures like Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró shaping the movement’s direction.
Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) was a key figure of the Surrealist movement and a modern art celebrity known for his melting watches and theatrical persona. He studied at the Madrid Academy, influenced by painters from Johannes Vermeer to Giorgio de Chirico, and explored styles as diverse as Impressionism and Cubism. Deeply inspired by Freud, he pursued an “art of the unconscious,” leading to his “metaphysical paintings.” He soon became synonymous with Surrealism, garnering global recognition. As an engraver, he fused sensuality and the macabre in imaginative works, showcasing his exceptional draughtsmanship in his etchings and heliogravures. Pierre Argillet, a notable modernist publisher, collaborated with Dalí for over fifty years, producing many of his most sought-after editions depicting Greek Mythology, the Hippies, Ronsard, Apollinaire, and Goethe, among others.
Joan Miró (1893–1983) embraced biomorphism, creating forms that blur figuration and abstraction. Born in 1893 in Barcelona, he attended business school at fourteen before shifting to art at La Lonia’s Escuela Superior de Artes Industriales y Belles Artes. He continued his art studies at Francesc Gali’s Escola d’Art from 1912 to 1915. His early work exhibited diverse influences, including the Fauves' bright colors and Catalan folk art. In the early 1920s, influenced by surrealist poets and artists, his style matured, drawing on memory and fantasy to create twisted organic shapes and odd geometric forms. He often didn't know what would emerge on the canvas, tapping into the subconscious to craft dreamlike landscapes.
In 2024, museums worldwide are showcasing major Surrealist exhibitions that emphasize this revolutionary artistic movement's influence and lasting impact. Boston's Museum of Fine Arts will present Salvador Dalí alongside masterpieces by other Spanish, Dutch, and Italian Old and Modern Masters in their exhibition Dalí: Disruption and Devotion. The eccentric and iconoclastic artist Salvador Dalí was renowned for his surreal imagery and unique artistic vision. However, he was also deeply connected to tradition, and he studied, imitated, and greatly admired his European predecessors, drawing inspiration from Spain, the Low Countries, and Italy.
To celebrate this seminal occasion, Galerie d'Orsay will showcase our stunning collection of original Salvador Dalí watercolors, tapestries, and etchings alongside our lively Joan Miró collection throughout 2024. We invite you to visit the gallery today to experience these fabulous artworks in person!
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