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What is the definition of Surrealism in art?
1 Answer
In art, the definition of Surrealism is a movement that emerged in the 1920s and was defined by dreamlike and uncanny imagery. It was often guided by a variety of techniques, such as automatic drawing, to channel psychological experiences. In the wake of World War I’s ravaging of Europe, artists delved into the unconscious mind to confront and grapple with this reality. Poet and critic André Breton, a leader of the Surrealist movement who authored the 1924 Surrealist Manifesto, called this approach “a violent reaction against the impoverishment and sterility of thought processes that resulted from centuries of rationalism.” Artists who produced Surrealist art included Max Ernst, Salvador Dalí, Man Ray, Joan Miró, René Magritte, Yves Tanguy, Frida Kahlo and Meret Oppenheim. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Surrealist art.
1stDibs ExpertNovember 20, 2024
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Shop for Surrealist Art on 1stDibs
Where Am I? - 21st Century, Contemporary, Surrealism, African Nature, Boy Child
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Where am I?" is a piece that delves into themes of identity, place, and imagination. These dream-like and imaginative scenes create a fantastical atmosphere, inviting viewers to exp...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Canvas
"The Moon" original lithograph
By André Masson
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original lithograph. Printed in 1938 and published in Paris by Teriade for the art revue Verve (volume 1, number 2). Andre Masson was invited to contribute an original compos...
Category
1930s Surrealist Prints and Multiples
Materials
Lithograph
Island. Women's Sculpture Head, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Guigen Zha presents a stylized portrait of a woman’s head, adorned with floral and tree-like elements against a backdrop of blue sky, moon, and seascap...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
"Snail"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
One of my best works in this series is ""Art from Money."" This painting has a philosophical meaning. It reflects the philosophy of human impact on the planet.
This prophetic paintin...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Paper, Oil
Mid 20th Century French Surrealist Oil Painting Nude Woman Standing
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Nude in Landscape
French Surrealist artist, mid 20th century
oil painting on board, ornately framed
frame: 40 x 31 inches
board: 29 x 20 inches
provenance: private collection, Paris
...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Nude Paintings
Materials
Oil
Joan Miro, Blue II, from Miro 1959–1960, 1961 (after)
By Joan Miró
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Bleu II (Blue II), from the album Miro 1959–1960 (Miro 1959–1960), originates from the 1961 edition published by Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York, rendered by Daniel Jacomet, Paris, and printed by Daniel Jacomet et Cie, Paris, 1961. Bleu II embodies Miro’s exploration of pure chromatic expression and spatial rhythm, using the intensity of blue to evoke depth, movement, and poetic emotion. The composition reflects his mastery of balance between form and void, symbolizing infinite freedom and the transcendence of the imagination.
Executed as a lithograph and pochoir on velin paper, this work measures 11.5 x 18.48 inches, with centerfold as issued. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Daniel Jacomet et Cie, Paris, one of France’s foremost studios specializing in pochoir and fine art printmaking.
Artwork Details:
Artist: After Joan Miro (1893–1983)
Title: Bleu II (Blue II), from the album Miro 1959–1960 (Miro 1959–1960), 1961
Medium: Lithograph and pochoir on velin paper
Dimensions: 11.5 x 18.48 inches (29.2 x 46.9 cm), with centerfold as issued
Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued
Date: 1961
Publisher: Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York
Renderer: Daniel Jacomet, Paris
Printer: Daniel Jacomet et Cie, Paris
Catalogue raisonne references: Cramer, Patrick, and Joan Miro. Joan Miro, Catalogue Raisonne Des Livres Illustres. P. Cramer, 1989, illustration 69. Dupin, Jacques, and Joan Miro. Miro Engraver 1961–1973. Rizzoli, 1989, illustration 292. Miro, Joan. Joan Miro, Lithographe II, 1953–1963. Joan Miro, Lithographe, Maeght, 1975, illustration 286–294.
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From the album Miro 1959–1960 (Miro 1959–1960), published by Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York; rendered by Daniel Jacomet, Paris; printed by Daniel Jacomet et Cie, Paris, 1961
Notes:
Excerpted from the album (translated from French), It was taken from this album: XXVIII examples with II original lithographs and an etching and VI suites, numbered from I to XXV; LXXX examples with II original lithographs and an etching, numbered from XXVI to LXXV; MCC examples, numbered from I to MCC. This album was made and presented for the exhibition of the artist's works at the Gallery Pierre Matisse, New York, October 31 - November 25, 1961.
About the Publication:
Miro 1959–1960 (Miro 1959–1960), published in 1961 by Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York, with pochoirs rendered by Daniel Jacomet, Paris, accompanied the landmark exhibition of Miro’s paintings and graphic works held at the Pierre Matisse Gallery from October 31 to November 25, 1961. The album captures the spirit of Miro’s late 1950s and early 1960s output—a period characterized by liberated brushwork, symbolic abstraction, and radiant chromatic experimentation. Printed by Daniel Jacomet et Cie, Paris, in collaboration with Fernand Mourlot for the original lithographs, the volume reflects the exceptional precision and artistry of French printmaking at its height. Designed to evoke the immediacy of Miro’s painted surfaces, the pochoirs and lithographs maintain a tactile richness and vibrancy that honor the original works. This publication stands among Miro’s most celebrated printed albums, marking a pivotal moment in his continued dialogue between materiality, imagination, and cosmic lyricism.
About the Artist:
Joan Miro (1893–1983) was a Catalan painter, sculptor, printmaker, and ceramicist whose visionary imagination and lyrical abstraction made him one of the most influential and beloved artists of the 20th century. Born in Barcelona, Miro drew inspiration from Catalan folk art, Romanesque frescoes, and the luminous landscapes of Mont-roig del Camp, developing a deep connection to nature that infused his work with vitality and symbolism. After formal training at the Escola d'Art in Barcelona, he absorbed the lessons of Post-Impressionism and Cubism before moving to Paris in the early 1920s, where he became a leading figure in the Surrealist movement. There, Miro forged a personal visual language of biomorphic shapes, floating symbols, and radiant color harmonies that reflected both spontaneity and spiritual depth. In creative dialogue with peers such as Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, he helped revolutionize modern art by dissolving the boundaries between abstraction and dream imagery. Miro's inventive approach extended far beyond painting, embracing sculpture, ceramics, and monumental public commissions that redefined how art could interact with space and emotion. His expressive freedom and gestural abstraction profoundly influenced later artists including Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Alexander Calder, Jean Dubuffet, Antoni Tapies, and Joan Mitchell, inspiring generations who sought to merge instinct, color, and imagination. Today, Miro's work remains a cornerstone of modernism, prized by collectors and celebrated in major museums worldwide. His highest auction record was achieved by Peinture (Etoile Bleue) (1927), which sold for 23,561,250 GBP (approximately 37 million USD) at Sotheby's, London, on June 19, 2012.
After Joan Miro Bleu II, Miro 1959–1960, Miro Pierre Matisse Gallery, Miro Daniel Jacomet, Miro pochoir...
Category
1960s Surrealist Abstract Prints
Materials
Lithograph


