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Surrealist Photography

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
"Black Cloud 2" Nude Photography 39" x 39" in Edition 1/3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Black Cloud 2" Nude Photography 39" x 39" in Edition 1/3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Av...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Vintage Silver Gelatin Photograph Surrealist Doll Art Photo, Jazz Photographer
Located in Surfside, FL
These were from a show of her work. Influenced by Surrealism and Dada Photographs these are images of old children's dolls in various states of decay. These bear the influence of Ha...
Category

20th Century Surrealist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Fragment Attraction, limited edition photograph, archival, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Fragment Attraction, limited edition photograph, archival, signed and numbered I present unspoken stories that illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evoke a...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

An American in Italy
Located in Sante Fe, NM
I present unspoken stories which illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evoke a mood in the viewer. These mythical illustrations might address the fragility of...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Black Cloud 3" Nude Photography 27.5" x 24" in Edition 2/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Black Cloud 3" Nude Photography 27.5" x 24" in Edition 2/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Vanilla
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Vintage Silver Gelatin Photograph Surrealist Doll Art Photo, Jazz Photographer
Located in Surfside, FL
These were from a show of her work. Influenced by Surrealism and Dada Photographs these are images of old children's dolls in various states of decay. These bear the influence of Ha...
Category

20th Century Surrealist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

"Positive Result" Photography 24" x 36" in Ed. of 15 by Masha Ko & Kolten Horner
Located in Culver City, CA
"Positive Result" Photography 24" x 36" in Ed. of 15 by Masha Ko & Kolten Horner Available sizes: Edition of 15: 24" x 36" Edition of 7: 30" x 45" Edition of 3: 40" x 60" Masha K...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Digital

Buffalo Gal
Located in Sante Fe, NM
I present unspoken stories which illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evoke a mood in the viewer. These mythical illustrations might address the fragility of...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Like No One is Watching, limited edition color print, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Like No One is Watching, limited edition color print, signed and numbered Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettabl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Salvador Dali's Party, Estate Edition Photograph [Surrealist Dinner, Green+Red]
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1959: Surrealist painter Salvador Dali (1904 - 1989) with a red-haired woman in a green dress at a vintage ball in New York. The artist is captured with his characteristic walking st...
Category

1950s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Exterior of Dalí's Figueras Castle - Original Gelatin Silver Photography
Located in Paris, IDF
Marc LACROIX (1927-2007) Exterior of Dalí's Figueras Castle, 1971 Original silver gelatin photograph Signed in ink Numbered on 10 copies On silver print paper 50.5 x 61 cm (c. 19.7 ...
Category

1970s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Morning On The Grand Canal, limited edition photograph, archival, signed
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Morning On The Grand Canal, limited edition photograph, archival, signed and numbered I present unspoken stories that illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Dalí with a Bow Tie - Original Silver Gelatin Photography
Located in Paris, IDF
Marc LACROIX (1927-2007) Dalí with a Bow Tie, 1971 Original silver gelatin photograph Signed in ink Numbered on 99 copies On silver print paper 58 x 48 cm (c. 22.8 x 18.9 inch) IN...
Category

1970s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

"Mother" Nude Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Mother" Nude Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Availa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Three of Us" Nude Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Three of Us" Nude Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Ava...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Formation - In Celebration of Pride Month
Located in New Orleans, LA
Stone and Press Gallery is excited to offer several works in celebration of the LGBTQ community. Formation is from a limited edition of 12. It is signed in pencil on back, Nude males are the falling leaves in this autumnal wonderland. A new book on the artist will be published in Spring. London-based Photographer and Graphic designer Omer Ga...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

C Print

The Listening Room
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Dali in Toreador Costume - Original Silver Gelatin Photography - SIGNED
Located in Paris, IDF
Marc LACROIX (1927-2007) Dali in Toreador Costume, 1971 Original silver print photograph Signed in ink Numbered on 99 copies On silver print paper 57 x 47 cm (c. 22.4 x 18.5 inch) ...
Category

1970s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Dalí with the Cubist Tricorne - Original Gelatin Silver Photography
Located in Paris, IDF
Marc LACROIX (1927-2007) Dalí with the Cubist Tricorne, 1971 Original gelatin silver photograph Signed in ink Numbered on 99 copies On silver print paper 57 x 47 cm (c. 22.4 x 18.5 ...
Category

1970s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Welcome to the Water Planet
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Flock of Birds on Wire Against Dramatic Sky Dramatic Clouds
Located in Miami, FL
After a 55-year career creating originally powerful images, Photographer Mitchell Funk outdoes himself. Flock of Birds on Wire was shot in the Windwood section of Miami. End-of-the-d...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Dalí Staring at the Horizon - Original Gelatin Silver Photography, SIGNED
Located in Paris, IDF
Marc LACROIX (1927-2007) Dalí Staring at the Horizon, 1971 Original silver print photograph Signed in ink Numbered on 50 copies On silver print paper 58 x 48 cm (c. 22.8 x 18.9 inch...
Category

1970s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Marsh Flight, Steady My Steed, limited edition photograph, archival, signed
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Marsh Flight, Steady My Steed, limited edition photograph, archival, signed and numbered I present unspoken stories that illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended t...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Moon Birth 3" Black & White Photography 16" x 16" in Ed of 24 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Moon Birth 3" Black & White Photography 16" x 16" in Ed of 24 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Ripple Effect lll
Located in East Hampton, NY
Ripple Effect IIl Medium: Photography (printed on metal) Size: 30" x 20" (larger sizes available - inquire within) 16x24 on metal - 20x30 on metal Made to Order Water Ripple Effect...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Metal

Doubleend: framed abstract black & white photo collage w/ nude, clock, clouds
Located in Bryn Mawr, PA
"Doubleend" is a black & white framed silver gelatin collage photograph in a surrealist style with images of nude, clock, clouds, and other abstract elements from artist Jenny Lynn's...
Category

1990s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Ripple Effect l
Located in East Hampton, NY
Ripple Effect I Medium: Black & White Photography (printed on metal) Size: 30" x 20" (larger sizes available - inquire within) 16x24 on metal - 20x30 on metal Made to Order Water R...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Metal

Dalí with White Flowers - Original Gelatin Silver Photography, SIGNED
Located in Paris, IDF
Marc LACROIX (1927-2007) Dalí with White Flowers, 1971 Original gelatin silver photography Signed in ink Numbered on 99 copies On silver print paper 57 x 47 cm (c. 22.4 x 18.5 inch)...
Category

1970s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Man Ray, Composition, Man Ray, Electa Editrice Portfolios (after)
Located in Southampton, NY
Héliogravure on vélin paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Man Ray, Electa Editrice Portfolios, 1980. Published and printed ...
Category

1980s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Lithograph

Art Deco Pastel Colors, Modern Still Life, Ordinary Objects Display, Purple
Located in Barcelona, ES
"Sexy Miami Futuristic Cocktail Lounge" is a series of photographs by Ryan Rivadeneyra inspired by the Art Deco colors of Miami that show beautiful objects ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

C Print, Photographic Paper

Steady My Steed, limited edition photograph, archival, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Steady My Steed, limited edition photograph, archival, signed and numbered I present unspoken stories that illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evoke a mood...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Dalí in Pool - Original Gelatin Dilver Photography
Located in Paris, IDF
Marc LACROIX (1927-2007) Dalí in Pool, 1971 Original Gelatin Dilver photograph Signed in ink Numbered on 50 copies On Gelatin Dilver paper 56.5 x 48.5 cm (c. 22 x 18.9 inch) INFOR...
Category

1970s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Untitled 3
Located in Winterswijk, NL
The City of Women from the serie Lollipop Edition: 8ex "Victoria Lykholot, an artist and lecturer from Ukraine. After graduating from the Faculty of Philosophy in 2007. For several...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Badlands
Located in Sante Fe, NM
I present unspoken stories which illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evoke a mood in the viewer. These mythical illustrations might address the fragility of...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Moi sans toi
Located in Sante Fe, NM
I present unspoken stories which illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evoke a mood in the viewer. These mythical illustrations might address the fragility of...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Hostess
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Man Ray, Composition, Man Ray, Electa Editrice Portfolios (after)
Located in Southampton, NY
Héliogravure on vélin paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Man Ray, Electa Editrice Portfolios, 1980. Published and printed ...
Category

1980s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Lithograph

Double Heist
Located in Sante Fe, NM
I present unspoken stories which illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evoke a mood in the viewer. These mythical illustrations might address the fragility of...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Raven's Blessing
Located in Sante Fe, NM
I present unspoken stories which illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evoke a mood in the viewer. These mythical illustrations might address the fragility of...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Sweet Nectar
Located in Sante Fe, NM
I present unspoken stories which illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evoke a mood in the viewer. These mythical illustrations might address the fragility of...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Rescuer" Black & White Photography 28" x 20" in Ed. 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Rescuer" Black & White Photography 28" x 20" in Ed. 1/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Av...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Geometry" Black & White Photography 39" x 39" in Edition 2/3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Geometry" Black & White Photography 39" x 39" in Edition 2/3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Tea For Two, limited edition photograph, archival pigment, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Tea For Two, limited edition photograph, archival pigment, signed and numbered My photographic series Tales of Heroines is a collection of stories about the lives of young women tol...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Jaguar
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Edition of 3 plus 2 AP.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Jaguar
$6,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Sponge
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Acrylic mounted photograph.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Color

Sponge
$3,360 Sale Price
20% Off
Art Deco Paris - Eiffel tower Place du Trocadéro Statues " Slave to Love" Gold
Located in Miami, FL
Reminiscent of the dreamy elegance of a bygone era, Mitchell Funk transforms a tourist location into the quintessence of timeless Paris chic. To achieve this the photographer had to rid the Trocadero of toursits. Next came choosing the right camera angle and lighting the scene dramatically. The photo recalls Brian Ferry...
Category

1990s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

NIGHTMARE Signed Photograph, Surreal Self-Portrait, Mexican Folklore, Skeleton
By Nia Mora
Located in Union City, NJ
NIGHTMARE by the photographer Nia Mora is a very unique self portrait color photograph exhibiting lush deep tones of intense red and jet-black, with haunting surrealist imagery of three figures positioned on a bed in a red walled room: one wearing a skeleton mask robed in black velvet, two with ghostly white faces all portraying the artist's self portrait as three entities of a nightmare. Photo Print size - 24 x 24 inches, unframed, excellent condition, signed in black ink on reverse by photographer Nia Mora Edition of 10 Year produced - 2007 Nia Mora, an American photographer, artist and chef, focuses her commercial work towards her passions of food, wine, and travel. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, her father is the jazz percussionist Francisco Mora...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Color

Conceptual Surreal Portrait Photography - Fairies Feli
Located in Winterswijk, NL
Performative Surreal Portrait: Girl with Meat Headpiece in Green Dress - Feli Julia Kissina Photography (Fujicolor Print, 1997/98) Unique performativ...
Category

1990s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Surreal Blue Landscape
Located in Miami, FL
This image from the imagination of Mitchell Funk was the cover photograph for Popular Photography Magazine, May 1978, It is signed and dated on lower right, numbered on verso, 2/1...
Category

1970s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

"C'mon Baby" Black & White Photography 28" x 20" in Ed. 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"C'mon Baby" Black & White Photography 28" x 20" in Ed. 1/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Nest
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Edition of 3 plus 2 AP.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

C Print

Nest
$6,000 Sale Price
20% Off
"Pygmalion and Galatea 3" Photography 24" x 24" in Ed. of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Pygmalion and Galatea 3" Photography 24" x 24" in Ed. of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Shot spring
Located in Edinburgh, GB
I did a photo session of a neighbour in my bombed-out office in a studio in Kharkiv. A Russian fighter jet dropped a bomb on March 2 on the roof of this 5-storey building and a neigh...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

C Print

"Thirst" Black & White Photography 49" x 39" in Edition 1/3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Thirst" Black & White Photography 49" x 39" in Edition 1/3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Wherever You Look, You See The Chrysler Building, Long Island City 3
Located in Miami, FL
Early twentieth-century train technology in the form of a wooden switch station in Long Island City is juxtaposed against the minimalistic International Style glass facade of the Uni...
Category

1970s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

"Rescuer" Black & White Photography 50" x 35" in Edition 1/3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Rescuer" Black & White Photography 50" x 35" in Edition 1/3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Angel Study, Vintage C Print Color Photograph Signed Surrealist Photo Rome Italy
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed, titled and dated verso. Stephan Brigidi was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1951, and is a widely published artist whose work has been...
Category

1970s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, C Print

The philosopher’s study.
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
In 1981 Maggie Taylor (b. 1961) began to photograph while she was a student at Yale University majoring in philosophy. She primarily took photographs of suburban landscapes and stran...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Digital Pigment

"Ahead of me 2" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Ahead of me 2" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Availa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Surrealist photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist photography 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 photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, red, orange, purple and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Mitchell Funk, Rosemary Ellis, Brian Ziff, and FPA Francis Pavy Artist. Frequently made by artists working with Paper, and Photographic Paper 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 photography, so small editions measuring 4.5 inches across are also available. Prices for photography 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 $110 and tops out at $28,800, while the average work sells for $1,750.

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