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Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

SURREALIST STYLE

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.” Surrealist art emerged in the 1920s with dreamlike and uncanny imagery guided by a variety of techniques such as automatic drawing, which can be likened to a stream of consciousness, to channel psychological experiences.

Although Surrealism was a groundbreaking approach for European art, its practitioners were inspired by Indigenous art and ancient mysticism for reenvisioning how sculptures, paintings, prints, performance art and more could respond to the unsettled world around them.

Surrealist artists were also informed by the Dada movement, which originated in 1916 Zurich and embraced absurdity over the logic that had propelled modernity into violence. Some of the Surrealists had witnessed this firsthand, such as Max Ernst, who served in the trenches during World War I, and Salvador Dalí, whose otherworldly paintings and other work responded to the dawning civil war in Spain.

Other key artists associated with the revolutionary art and literary movement included Man Ray, Joan Miró, René Magritte, Yves Tanguy, Frida Kahlo and Meret Oppenheim, all of whom had a distinct perspective on reimagining reality and freeing the unconscious mind from the conventions and restrictions of rational thought. Pablo Picasso showed some of his works in “La Peinture Surréaliste” — the first collective exhibition of Surrealist painting — which opened at Paris’s Galerie Pierre in November of 1925. (Although Magritte is best known as one of the visual Surrealist movement’s most talented practitioners, his famous 1943 painting, The Fifth Season, can be interpreted as a formal break from Surrealism.)

The outbreak of World War II led many in the movement to flee Europe for the Americas, further spreading Surrealism abroad. Generations of modern and contemporary artists were subsequently influenced by the richly symbolic and unearthly imagery of Surrealism, from Joseph Cornell to Arshile Gorky.

Find a collection of original Surrealist paintings, sculptures, prints and multiples and more art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Surrealist
Nude - Ink and Watercolor Drawing by Sergio Barletta - 1990s
Located in Roma, IT
Nude is an original painting in watercolor and pen on paper applied on brown cardboard, realized by Sergio Barletta, hand-signed. In excellent conditions. Sheet dimension: 24 x17 ...
Category

1990s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Mixed Media

Untitled Female Nude with Male, Original Drawing by Surrealist Painter
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Untitled Female Nude and Male" is a 22 x 17 inches, ink on paper drawing by American Surrealist painter Leon Kelly. The drawing is signed and dated in the lower right, it is matted ...
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1960s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper

Untitled Nude. Pencil drawing on paper
Located in Miami Beach, FL
"Estrada-Duran combines realism and surrealism in his work, the artists paintings are often monochromatic pencil drawings with overlays of gold paint that depict goddess-like women ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gold

'Surrealistic Nude Figures, ' by Leonard Kaplan, Painting, c. 1960s
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 20" x 14" painting in a surrealist style by artist Leonard Kaplan depicts three nude figures crowded together, sitting and standing with a white bird obscured by the dark shadows. Predominant colors are red, orange, black, and cream. The painting is on paper and masonite framed behind glass in a silver metal frame. Leonard Kalan is known for surrealism and figure paintings. He died in California in 2008. Leonard was born January 15, 1922 in New York City and won a scholarship in 1940 to study at the Art Student League under Reginald Marsh and William Pair. He won an art scholarship to New York University in the late 1930's. He studied art at the Henry Street...
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1960s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Masonite, Chalk, Acrylic, Archival Paper

Erotic Couple - Surrealism Argentinian French Erotic Couple
Located in London, GB
This drawing by Leonor Fini is hand signed by the artist in brown ink "Leonor Fini" in the lower right image. It was executed in 1977. This work is from a sketchbook. Condition: Ve...
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1970s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Ink

Erotic Couple - Surrealism Argentinian French Erotic Couple
Located in London, GB
This drawing by Leonor Fini is hand signed by the artist in black ink "Leonor Fini" in the lower right image. It is additionally annotated ‘4’ in black ink in the lower right corner....
Category

1970s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Paper

Untitled Nude. Pencil and gold paint nude figurative drawing on paper.
Located in Miami Beach, FL
"Estrada-Duran combines realism and surrealism in his work, the artists paintings are often monochromatic pencil drawings with overlays of gold paint that depict goddess-like women ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gold

Fashionable Faces, Surrealist Figurative Line Drawing
Located in Soquel, CA
Fun and playful figurative line drawing with three stylized female faces by SusanBrooks (American, b. 1951), 1985. Signed and dated in the lowe...
Category

1980s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Pencil

Egg Walkers nude male and female figures dark green surreal egg strewn landscape
Located in Brooklyn, NY
ABOUT Stephen Basso Stephen Basso's highly original pastels and oil paintings are romantic, yet thought provoking fantasies. His whimsical works are alive with boundless imaginat...
Category

2010s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pastel, Archival Paper

(For Grownups Only)
Located in San Francisco, CA
And what are you to look for? Not random swipes, as if cleaning one’s brush on the verso. Nor the whisps of cigarette smoke wafting upward from below. No. Do look again for an exquis...
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Mid-20th Century Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Chalk

The temptation of Saint Anthony (1977) by Vivaldo Martini - Drawing 36x49 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
His first name sounds like a concerto. Vivacious, its name is reminiscent of an aperitif or a cyclist. The addition of the two evokes the Italianate. Indomitable and unavoidable. Mor...
Category

1970s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pen

Untitled Nude. Figurative drawing on paper. Pencil and gold paint
Located in Miami Beach, FL
"Estrada-Duran combines realism and surrealism in his work, the artists paintings are often monochromatic pencil drawings with overlays of gold paint that depict goddess-like women ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gold

Nude women - Ink on Paper Unique Signed Drawing Surrealist Woman Painter, 1965
Located in New York, NY
Leonor Fini Nude women, ca. 1965 Ink on paper 13 × 13 in l 33 × 33 cm Frame included - 18 x 18 in l 46 x 46 cm Signed lower right Condition: Excellent condition
Category

1960s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Laid Paper

Concert #VI
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Concert #6" 1974 is a 2 colors ink drawing on beige Canson et Montgolfier paper by noted Polish artist Barbara Gawdzik Brzozowska,...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink

Diana
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Diana" 1974 is a color ink drawing on light grey Canson et Mongolfier paper by noted Polish artist Barbara Gawdzik Brzozowska, 192...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink

Concert #IV
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Concert #IV" 1974 is a 2 colors ink drawing on orange Canson et Mongolfier paper by noted Polish artist Barbara Gawdzik Brzozowska...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink

Surrealist Composition, Unique drawing on paper, Svanberg Museum Exhibition 1935
Located in New York, NY
Max Walter Svanberg (1912–1994) Surrealist Composition, 1935 Graphite on paper Dimensions: 10 ⅗ × 16 ½ in (27 × 42 cm); 18 ⅞ × 25 ¼ in (48 × 64 cm) framed Signed and dated lower righ...
Category

1930s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Graphite

Kyle Andrew Szpyrka - Bable, Drawing 2014
Located in Greenwich, CT
"Sutra, a Sanskrit word meaning “thread”, is a word or small group of words that summarize an entire complex web of ideas, truths, wisdoms, or teachings all woven together into a sin...
Category

2010s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Pencil, Graphite

Les Captives by Paul Delvaux - Nudes, Work on paper, Ink
Located in London, GB
*PLEASE NOTE UK BUYERS WILL ONLY PAY 5% VAT ON THIS PURCHASE. Les Captives by Paul Delvaux (1897-1994) Pen, Indian ink and wash on paper 35 x 43.5 cm (13 ³/₄ x 17 ¹/₈ inches) Signed and dated lower right, P. Delvaux 1955 Inscribed on the reverse Provenance: Christie's London, 2010 Private collection, London, acquired from the above Artist biography: Belgian artist Paul Delvaux was born in Liège in eastern Belgium. Despite Delvaux’s desire to become an artist, his lawyer father encouraged him to train as an architect at the prestigious Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. Thanks to private art tuition undertaken alongside his architectural studies, in 1925 Delvaux gained his first solo exhibition in Brussels. Heavily influenced by contemporary Expressionism and Surrealism, Delvaux was soon drawn to the ‘metaphysical’ paintings of Italian artist Giorgio de Chirico. On a chance visit to a museum of medical curiosities...
Category

1950s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, India Ink, Pen

erotica al fresco, narrative architectural fantasy w female nudes
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pastel on toned paperABOUT Stephen Basso Stephen Basso's highly original pastels and oil paintings are romantic, yet thought provoking fantasies. His whimsical works are alive wi...
Category

2010s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Pastel

Concert #II
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Concert #II" 1974 is a 2 colors ink drawing on creme Canson et Montgolfier paper by noted Polish artist Barbara Gawdzik Brzozowska...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink

Victor
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Victor" 1974 is a 2 colors ink drawing on light green/brown Canson et Mogolfier paper by noted Polish artist Barbara Gawdzik Brzoz...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink

Pelagia
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Pelagia" 1974 is a 2 colors ink drawing on pink Canson et Mongolfier paper by noted Polish artist Barbara Gawdzik Brzozowska, 1927...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink

Concert #I
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Concert #1" 1974 is a black and color ink drawing on Canson et Mongolfier paper by noted Polish artist Barbara Gawdzik Brzozowska,...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink

Two Women, Erotic Nude Woman - Lesbian Dream - Existential Magic Realism
Located in Miami, FL
Two Women by George Tooker is a psychologically engaging portrait of contrasts. An untidy, older, overweight woman is seen slumped in a chair, asleep and lost in a dream. Her head ti...
Category

1950s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Pencil

Dorothea Tanning 1968 Surrealist Watercolor & Pencil, Surrealism, Three Figures
Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Dorothea Tanning Untitled 11 x 10 inches Signed & dated lower right Framed A 1968 watercolor & pencil depicting three surrealist figures. PROVENANCE: Merz Kunsthandlung (Sprengler...
Category

1960s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Pencil

Dance Partners nude female subject with rose bouquet surreal expressive format
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Soft pastel on red toned heavyweight archival paper signed and dated bottom. Part of an ongoing series by the artist of women with floral bouquets. Framing under glass is necessary f...
Category

2010s Surrealist Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pastel, Archival Paper

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Surrealist nude drawings and watercolors for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist nude drawings and watercolors available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add nude drawings and watercolors created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Juan C. Estrada, Sergio Barletta, Stephen Basso, and Leon Kelly. Frequently made by artists working with Paper, and Ink and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Surrealist nude drawings and watercolors, so small editions measuring 8.67 inches across are also available. Prices for nude drawings and watercolors made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $418 and tops out at $35,000, while the average work sells for $975.

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