The Surrealist movement was founded in Paris, 1924 by a small group of writers and artists who sought to channel the unconscious part of the mind as the power and means to unlock the all seeing power of the imagination or third eye. Disdaining rationalism and literary realism, while powerfully influenced by Freud, the Surrealists believed the conscious mind had all too often repressed the power of the imagination and seemed to have weighed it down with too much taboo. Influenced also by Marx, they hoped that the psyche had the power to reveal the contradictions in the everyday world and spur on everything to do with the new revolution. Their emphasis on the power of the imagination puts them in the tradition of, some would say, Romanticism. Unlike their forbears, however they believed that revelations could be found on the streets and also in everyday life. The Surrealist impulse to tap the subconscious mind along with their interests in myth and primitivism, went on to shape the Abstract Expressionist Artists, and they remain still so very influential today.
The following is a list of some of the most notable surrealist painters, some of which are also abstract expressionist artists: 1. PAUL CEZANNE (1839-1906) - "Cezanne is the father of us all." This famous quote has been attributed to both Picasso and Matisse. While it certainly does not matter who actually said it, all in all, either case would be appropriate. While he exhibited with the Impressionist painters, our artist Cezanne left behind the whole group and developed a style of painting never seen so far, which opened the door for the arrival of Cubism and the rest of the vanguards of the twentieth century. Cezanne's artwork included portraits as well as "still life" among others.
2. SALVADOR DAL (1904-1989) - "I am Surrealism!" shouted Salvador Dali when he was expelled from the surrealist movement by Andre Breton. Although the quote sounds presumptuous (which was not unusualfor Dali, a self proclaimed mad man), the fact is that Dali's paintings are now the most famous images of all time in the surrealist art movement. Dali's work includes the ever so famous Paintings By Dali The Persistence Of Memory" and several others, including a dream about a bumble bee, and another titled, "The Dream" and a hallucinogenic type surreal painting: "The Hallucinogenic Toreador". Dali also seems to have dabbled in cubism art, which is what his Abraham Lincoln surrealist portrait is all about.
3. MARC CHAGALL (1887-1985) - Artist of dreams and fantasies, Chagall was all about his life as an immigrant fascinated by the lights and colors of the places he visited. Few names from the School of Paris of the early twentieth century have contributed so much -and with such variety of ideas- to change modern Art as this man was just absolutely "impressed by the light," as he defined it himself. He is most notably famous for his painting, "I And The Village".
4. GUSTAV KLIMT (1862-1918) - Half way between modernism and symbolism appears "The Kiss" painter, Gustave Klimt, who was also devoted to the industrial arts. His Tree Of Life inspires nearly everyone, and his nearly abstract landscapes also make him a forerunner of geometric abstraction or cubism. He's gained most noteriety for the painting, "Tree Of Life" and "The Kiss" which recently sold in Nov. of 2011 for over $40 million. Impressive? Yes, these painters knew what they were doing from start to finish.
The following is a list of some of the most notable surrealist painters, some of which are also abstract expressionist artists: 1. PAUL CEZANNE (1839-1906) - "Cezanne is the father of us all." This famous quote has been attributed to both Picasso and Matisse. While it certainly does not matter who actually said it, all in all, either case would be appropriate. While he exhibited with the Impressionist painters, our artist Cezanne left behind the whole group and developed a style of painting never seen so far, which opened the door for the arrival of Cubism and the rest of the vanguards of the twentieth century. Cezanne's artwork included portraits as well as "still life" among others.
2. SALVADOR DAL (1904-1989) - "I am Surrealism!" shouted Salvador Dali when he was expelled from the surrealist movement by Andre Breton. Although the quote sounds presumptuous (which was not unusualfor Dali, a self proclaimed mad man), the fact is that Dali's paintings are now the most famous images of all time in the surrealist art movement. Dali's work includes the ever so famous Paintings By Dali The Persistence Of Memory" and several others, including a dream about a bumble bee, and another titled, "The Dream" and a hallucinogenic type surreal painting: "The Hallucinogenic Toreador". Dali also seems to have dabbled in cubism art, which is what his Abraham Lincoln surrealist portrait is all about.
3. MARC CHAGALL (1887-1985) - Artist of dreams and fantasies, Chagall was all about his life as an immigrant fascinated by the lights and colors of the places he visited. Few names from the School of Paris of the early twentieth century have contributed so much -and with such variety of ideas- to change modern Art as this man was just absolutely "impressed by the light," as he defined it himself. He is most notably famous for his painting, "I And The Village".
4. GUSTAV KLIMT (1862-1918) - Half way between modernism and symbolism appears "The Kiss" painter, Gustave Klimt, who was also devoted to the industrial arts. His Tree Of Life inspires nearly everyone, and his nearly abstract landscapes also make him a forerunner of geometric abstraction or cubism. He's gained most noteriety for the painting, "Tree Of Life" and "The Kiss" which recently sold in Nov. of 2011 for over $40 million. Impressive? Yes, these painters knew what they were doing from start to finish.
About the Author:
C. L. Whitley is an art enthusiast. Married with 2 children, she frequents museums. Her latest includes a Cezanne painting and an infamous Chagall painting.
