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Surrealist Animal Prints

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
Salvador Dali - The Oak and the Reed - Signed Engraving
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
SALVADOR DALI The Oak and the Reed (La chêne et le roseau) from Le Bestiaire de la Fontaine 1974 Hand signed by Dali Edition: /250 Conditions: A small tear defect has been restaured...
Category

1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Drypoint, Aquatint

Henry Moore - Original Lithograph
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Henry Moore - Original Lithograph 1977 Dimensions: 32 x 24 cm From the art review XXe siècle Unsigned and unumbered as issued
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1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

La Grande Parade des Chats (The Great Parade of the Cats)
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Leonor Fini Title: La Grande Parade des Chats (The Great Parade of the Cats) Year: 1973 Medium: Color lithograph Edition: Numbered 1...
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1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

The Mock Turtle's Story Alice in Wonderland Salvador Dali 1969 original woodcut
Located in Paonia, CO
The Mock Turtle's Story is from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as interpreted by Salvador Dali and published by Maecenas ( a Random...
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1960s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Photogravure

Orsa Maggiore, Lithograph by Wifredo Lam
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Wifredo Lam, Cuban (1902 - 1982) Title: Orsa Maggiore Year: 1976 Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: X/XXV Paper Size: 31...
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1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

The Bug - Original handsigned lithograph
Located in Paris, FR
Corneille The Bug, 1999 Original lithograph Handsigned Numbered EA /25 On vellum 63 x 46 cm (c. 25 x 18 inch) Excellent condition
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1990s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Butterfly suite : Auvergne - lithograph - Tall size, 1969
Located in Paris, FR
after Salvador DALI (1904-1969) France : Auvergne, 1969 Lithograph and heliogravure Printed signature in the plate bottom right Tall model, from the 700 unumbered edition Printed in...
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1960s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Photogravure, Lithograph

Surrealist Horse and Rider - Handsigned lithograph
By Frédéric Bouché
Located in Paris, FR
Frederic BOUCHE Surrealist Horse and Rider Original lithograph Handsigned in pencil Numbered / 125 copies On Japan paper 65 x 50 cm (c. 26 x 20 in) Excellent condition
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Late 20th Century Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Tribute to Mozart : Firebird - Original handsigned lithograph
Located in Paris, FR
Corneille Tribute to Mozart : Firebird, 1991 Original lithograph Handsigned Numbered EA /30 On vellum 50 x 65 cm (c. 20 x 26 inch) Excellent condition
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1980s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Bird
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Bird" c.1980 is an original etching by noted California artist Arnold A. Grossman, 1923-2016. It is signed with initials in pencil by the artist. The artwork siz...
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Late 20th Century Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Etching

Jean Arp - Original Lithograph
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Jean Arp - Original Lithograph 1962 Dimensions: 32 x 24 cm From the art review XXe siècle Unsigned and unumbered as issued
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1960s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

'Anabel & Millicent', Art Deco, Woman Artist, AIC, ASL, Paris, Salon d'Automne
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right 'Nura' for Nura Woodson Ulreich (American, 1899–1950) and created circa 1935; additionally inscribed lower left with title, 'An...
Category

1930s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

American Trotting Horses No. I
Located in Paonia, CO
American Trotting Horses No.1 is from the series “The World Of Currier And Ives as interpreted by Salvador Dali” published by Phyllis...
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1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Dali, "The Grand Inquisitor Expels the Savior" from After 50 Years of Surrealism
Located in Chatsworth, CA
This piece is an original etching by Salvador Dali from the "After 50 Years of Surrealism" portfolio, which consists of 12 original etchin...
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1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Etching

"French Prawn, " Woodcut Print on Rice Paper by Leonard Baskin
Located in Long Island City, NY
This woodcut print was created by American artist Leonard Baskin. Baskin is well known for his somewhat grotesque, intricate, surreal drawings and natural subject matter. This print ...
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1950s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Woodcut, Rice Paper

Harry Bunce, Fallen, Limited Edition Silkscreen Print, Conservation Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Harry Bunce Love Wars Series, Fallen Limited Edition Hand Pulled Silkscreen Image Size: H 49cm x W 69.5cm x D 0.1cm Mounted Size: H 59cm x W 80cm x 0.5cm ...
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21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Paper, Screen

American Trotting Horse No II from Currier & Ives suite by Salvador Dali
Located in Paonia, CO
American Trotting Horses No. 2 by Salvador Dali has dynamic movement in the two trotting horses with an added giant Dalian insect head in coll...
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1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

"Warthog, " Drypoint Etching by Leonard Baskin, 1969
Located in Long Island City, NY
This drypoint etching was created by American artist Leonard Baskin. Baskin is well known for his somewhat grotesque, intricate, surreal drawings and natural subject matter. This etc...
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1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Drypoint, Etching

Little Jungle, Katie Edwards, Limited Edition Print, Surrealist Landscape Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Katie Edwards Little Jungle Limited Edition 3 Colour Silkscreen Print Edition of 100 Mounted Size: H 40.5cm x W 30.5cm x D 0.5cm Sold Unframed (Please note that in situ images are pu...
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21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Paper, Screen

Fin d'Absalom - Hand Colored Etching by Marc Chagall - 1958
Located in Roma, IT
Hand Signed (artist's signature "M.Ch." lower right). Edition of 100 copies (62/100). From the series of “The Bible“, printed by Raymond Haasen and published by Tériade.. Ref. Cra...
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1950s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Etching

(after) Max Ernst - Blue Bird - Stencil
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Max Ernst (after) - Blue Bird - Stencil Published in the deluxe art review, XXe Siecle, 1958 Dimensions: 32 x 25 cm Publisher: G. di San Lazzaro. Max Ernst was born in Bruhl, a place near Cologne, in Germany. He was raised in a strict Catholic family, and both of his parents were disciplinarians who were dedicated to training their children into God-fearing and talented individuals. Although his father was deaf, Ernst learned so much from him, particularly when it comes to painting. In fact, much of his early years were lived under the inspiration of his father who was also a teacher. He was the one who introduced painting to Ernst at an early age. In 1914, Ernst attended the University of Bonn where he studied philosophy. However, he eventually dropped out of school because he was more interested in the arts. He claimed that his primary sources of interest included anything that had something to do with painting. Moreover, he became fascinated with psychology, among other subjects in school. Primarily, Ernst's love for painting was the main reason why he became deeply interested with this craft and decided to pursue it later on in his life. During his early years, he became familiar with the works of some of the greatest artists of all time including Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne and Vincent van Gogh. He was also drawn to themes such as fantasy and dream imagery, which were among the common subjects of the works of Giorgio de Chirico. During World War I, Ernst was forced to join the German Army, and he became a part of the artillery division that exposed him greatly to the drama of warfare. A soldier in the War, Ernst emerged deeply traumatized and highly critical of western culture. These charged sentiments directly fed into his vision of the modern world as irrational, an idea that became the basis of his artwork. Ernst's artistic vision, along with his humor and verve come through strongly in his Dada and Surrealists works; Ernst was a pioneer of both movements. It was Ernst's memories of the war and his childhood that helps him create absurd, yet interesting scenes in his artworks. Soon, he took his passion for the arts seriously when he returned to Germany after the war. With Jean Arp, a poet and artist, Ernst formed a group for artists in Cologne. He also developed a close relationship with fellow artists in Paris who propagated Avant-Garde artworks. In 1919, Ernst started creating some of his first collages, where he made use of various materials including illustrated catalogs and some manuals that produced a somewhat futuristic image. His unique masterpieces allowed Ernst to create his very own world of dreams and fantasy, which eventually helped heal his personal issues and trauma. In addition to painting and creating collages, Ernst also edited some journals. He also made a few sculptures that were rather queer in appearance. In 1920s, influenced by the writings of psychologist Sigmund Freud, the literary, intellectual, and artistic movement called Surrealism sought a revolution against the constraints of the rational mind; and by extension, they saw the rules of a society as oppressive. Surrealism also embraces a Marxist ideology that demands an orthodox approach to history as a product of the material interaction of collective interests, and many renown Surrealism artists later on became 20th century Counterculture symbols such as Marxist Che Guevara. In 1922 Ernst moved to Paris, where the surrealists were gathering around Andre Breton. In 1923 Ernst finished Men Shall Know Nothing of This, known as the first Surrealist painting. Ernst was one of the first artists who apply The Interpretation of Dreams by Freud to investigate his deep psyche in order to explore the source of his own creativity. While turning inwards unto himself, Ernst was also tapping into the universal unconscious with its common dream imagery. Despite his strange styles, Ernst gained quite a reputation that earned him some followers throughout his life. He even helped shape the trend of American art during the mid-century, thanks to his brilliant and extraordinary ideas that were unlike those of other artists during his time. Ernst also became friends with Peggy Guggenheim, which inspired him to develop close ties with the abstract expressionists. When Ernst lived in Sedona, he became deeply fascinated with the Southwest Native American navajo art. In fact, the technique used in this artwork inspired him and paved the way for him to create paintings that depicted this style. Thus, Ernst became a main figure of this art technique, including the rituals and spiritual traditions included in this form of art. Pollock, aside from the other younger generations of abstract expressionists, was also inspired by sand painting of the Southwest...
Category

1950s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Stencil

Femme au bouquet de fleurs (Lady with Flower Bouquet)
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
This vintage color lithograph on paper is after a watercolor by Marc Chagall titled Femme au bouquet de fleurs (Lady with Flower Bouquet). Signed on ...
Category

1960s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Marc Chagall (after) - Lettre à mon peintre Raoul Dufy
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
(after) Marc Chagall Lithograph after a watercolor, published in the book "Lettre à mon peintre Raoul Dufy." Paris, Librairie Académique Perrin, 1965. Printed signature Dimensions:...
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1960s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

"Escargot", Surreal Lithograph by Mihail Chemiakin
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Mihail Chemiakin, Russian (1943 - ) Title: Escargot Year: circa 1978 Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 231/300 Image Size: 23.75 x 21.5 inches Size: ...
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1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

La Grande Parade des Chats etching by Surrealist Leonor Fini Cats Hats French
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original hand signed and editioned etching by Leonor Fini from her "Parade des Chats " Cat Parade Series. This is an E.A or an edition of the artist. This piece comes in an ar...
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1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Archival Paper, Etching

La Grande Parade des Chats 60 Illustrations of Cats by Leonor Fini 1973
Located in FR
La grande Parade des Chats Original Illustrations by Leonor Fini Containing sixty original illustrations all hand signed This is from a uniq...
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1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

"Man's Best Friend" Original Color Collagraph signed by Joseph Rozman
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Man's Best Friend" is an original color collograph in blue and red by Joseph Rozman. It depicts an animal in red on the right and a figure among abstract shapes in blue on the left....
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1960s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Color

Unité, Planche 19 (Set of 2) /// Surrealism Modern Art Le Corbusier Bull Cow
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Le Corbusier (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret) (Swiss-French, 1887-1965) Title: "Unité, Planche 19" (Set of 2) Portfolio: Unité *Signed by Le Corbusier in pencil lower right. It is...
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1960s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Etching, Aquatint, Intaglio

Le Satyre et le Passant - Etching by Marc Chagall - 1927-30
Located in Roma, IT
Hand Signed. Plate 57 from the series "Les Fables de La Fontaine". Good conditions.
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1950s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Etching

Salvador Dalí­, "Le Cavalier et le Cerf" from Le Bestiaire de la Fontaine
Located in Chatsworth, CA
This piece is an original engraving with color added by pochoir by Salvador Dali. It is from Dali's suite of 12 original engravings entitled "Le Bestiaire d...
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1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Engraving

"Procession (Fish), " Original Colorful Serigraph print fish design unique
By Ronald Osiecki
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Procession (Fish)" is an original serigraph print by Ronald Osiecki. It is signed and part of a limited edition. This print depicts fish heads in a pattern with abstract shapes in b...
Category

1990s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Screen

Unité, Planche 3 (Set of 2) /// Surrealism Le Corbusier Etching Modern Aquatint
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Le Corbusier (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret) (Swiss-French, 1887-1965) Title: "Unité, Planche 3" (Set of 2) Portfolio: Unité *Signed by Le Corbusier in pencil lower right. It is ...
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1960s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Etching, Aquatint, Intaglio

Salvador Dali Zodiac Surrealist Celestial Astrology Astral Spiritual Cool Signed
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"The Twelve Signs of the Zodiac Full Portfolio of 13 Original Lithographs" created by Salvador Dali. In 1967, famed surrealist artist Salvador Dali illustrated a portfolio depicting ...
Category

1960s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph, Ink

Don Quichotte, Surrealist Lithograph by Salvador Dali
Located in Long Island City, NY
The famed Don Quixote riding alongside a walking Sancho Panza. The horse theme was frequently used by Dali throughout his career. The horse is seen as a symbol of beauty and elegance...
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1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Hommage a Manolete
Located in Wiscasett, ME
OSCAR DOMINGUEZ 1906-1957 Hommage a Manolete, 1955 This is an original and signed and numbered lithograph in colors on BFK Rives vellum paper. Thi...
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1950s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

The Sacred Cow
Located in Wilton, CT
From The Hippies suite. Published by Graphic Europa Anstalt, Switzerland. Signed and numbered in pencil. Printed on Japon.
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1960s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Etching

The Sacred Cow
Located in Wilton, CT
From The Hippies suite. Published by Graphic Europa Anstalt, Switzerland. Signed and numbered in pencil. Printed on Japon.
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1960s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Etching

Zootopia - Figurative Surrealist print, Colofrul, Animals, Vibrant
Located in Warsaw, PL
The work comes directly from the artist, is numbered out of limited edition of 20, signed and made on sealed paper. Size of paper: ca 100 x 70 cm ( ca 39 x 20 inch) Dimensions of im...
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2010s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Paper, Color

René Magritte - Indiscrete Jewelry - Original Lithograph
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
René Magritte - Indiscrete Jewelry - Original Lithograph Dimensions: 32 x 24 cm XXe siècle Reference: Kaplan, Gilbert E. and Timothy Baum, 'The Graphic ...
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1960s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Surrealist Abstract Lithograph Of Birds Edition 4 of 30
By Albert Tucker
Located in Houston, TX
Surrealist abstract lithograph portraying birds flying. The lithograph is Edition 4/30. Painting is signed by the artist. Artist Biography: Albert Tucker...
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Late 20th Century Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Space Eagles
Located in Dallas, TX
In The New York Times Arts in America column, Edward M. Gomez wrote of Valton Tyler, "visionary seems the right word for describing his vivid, unusual and technically refined paintin...
Category

1970s Surrealist Animal Prints

Materials

Paper, Etching

Surrealist animal prints for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist animal prints 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 animal prints created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, orange, purple, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Salvador Dalí, Leonor Fini, Graham Sutherland, and Max Ernst. Frequently made by artists working with Lithograph, and Etching 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 animal prints, so small editions measuring 5.5 inches across are also available. Prices for animal prints 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 $60 and tops out at $22,800, while the average work sells for $1,500.

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