Surrealist Art
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.
Style: Surrealist
Color: Orange
Golden Reflections off Manhattan Skyscrapers
Located in Miami, FL
Signed, dated, numbered lower right, recto 3/15,
Unframed, other sizes available, printed later, Printed on Hahnemühle Fine Art paper
Mitchell Funk is a "Color Photographer Pioneer...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Photographic Paper, Inkjet
Salvador Dali - Corrida - Vintage Poster with Etching
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Salvador Dali - Corrida - Vintage Poster with Etching
Etching made behind a menu in Restautant Duran as a tribute dinner to Salvador Dali and his wife Ga...
Category
1960s Surrealist Art
Materials
Etching
ZANG TUMB TUMB - Rare Book - 1914
Located in Roma, IT
One of the main and most famous works by the Italian futurist poet F.T. Marinetti ( Alessandria d'Egitto , 1876 – Bellagio , 1944 ), clearly inspired by the Adrianople siege in 1912, which he witnessed as a reporter for L'Intransigeant . It is considered one of the most typical futurist work, since the author conceived it using different fonts, dimensions and other graphic elements that were responsible to take the reader right inside the battle. In fact, “the dynamic rhythms and onomatopoetic possibilities that the new form of expression offered, was made even more effective through the revolutionary use of different typefaces, forms and graphic arrangements and sizes that became a distinctive part of Futurism. ” (Caroline Tisdall-Angelo Bozzola...
Category
1910s Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper
Dernières Lettres Inédites à sa Mère - Rare Book - 1926
Located in Roma, IT
Edition of 562 copies. Copy on pur fil Lafuma paper. Includes preface and notes by Jacques Crepet and an unpublished portrait of Charles Baudelaire.
Cover very lightly worn on top, ...
Category
1920s Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper
Scoperte e Massacri, Scritti...- Rare Book Illustrated by Ardengo Soffici - 1919
Located in Roma, IT
Volume on the art by Ardengo Soffici (Rignano sull'Arno,1879 – Vittoria Apuana,1964). The texts are mainly a collection of art critics first published by Soffici on the italian magaz...
Category
1910s Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper
Frontières Humaines - Rare Book - 1929
Located in Roma, IT
Edition of 2108 copies. Copy on Velin Alfa Lafuma paper. Original paperback cover. Binding partially unglued. Very good conditions. Uncut.
Category
1920s Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper
Elegia dell'Ambra - Rare Book Illustrated by Ardengo Soffici - 1927
Located in Roma, IT
Edition of 600 copies. One of the 100 copies out of commerce, with the original signature of the author. Includes some original xylographies on the cover, on the frontispiece and on ...
Category
1920s Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper
Ecumes de la Mer - Rare Book Illustrated by G. Aubert - 1925
Located in Roma, IT
Edition of 800. Copy on velin simili cuve Navarre paper. On frontispiece it includes a portrait of the author by Pablo Picasso, engraved by G. Aubert. Perfect conditions and uncut.
Category
1920s Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper
Revolverate - Rare Book Illustrated by Gian Pietro Lucini - 1909
Located in Roma, IT
Revolverate , con una prefazione futurista di F.T. Marinetti. With a Futurist preface by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and an inscription dated 1917. Hardcover drew by Ardengo Soffici. S...
Category
1890s Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper
Tableau de Grands Magasins - Rare Book Illustrated by Jean Emile Laboureu - 1925
Located in Roma, IT
Edition of 334 copies. Copy number 2 on Velin pur fil Lafuma Navarre paper. Includes 12 original etchings by Jean Emile Laboureur. Partially uncut. Perfect conditions.
Category
1930s Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper
Huit Jours à Seville - Rare Book by Maurice Barraud - 1929
Located in Roma, IT
Edition of 1650 copies. Copy number on Hollande Van Gelder paper. Includes an original litograph by Maurice Barraud on the frontispiece. Seventh volume of the "Ceinture du Monde" col...
Category
1920s Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper
Untitled
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful Serigraph print on paper by the Cuban artist Manuel Mendive.
Manuel Mendive is an eminent Afro-Cuban painter, sculptor, and performance artist. His colorful, evocative pai...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art
Materials
Laid Paper, Screen
The faces of wisdom n°11 by Chantal Jentien - Oil pastel on paper 30x40 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Chantal Jentien is a contemporary Swiss artist who want to make colors and fun in her life. Completely self-taught, she paints according to her inspiration almost with closed eyes. S...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil Pastel
HOMAGE TO MIRO
Located in Aventura, FL
Giclee on canvas. Hand signed and numbered by the artist. AP edition. Canvas is not stretched.
Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity included. All reas...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art
Materials
Giclée, Canvas
Menorah - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972
By Max Ernst
Located in Roma, IT
Menorah is a lithograph on Arches paper realized by Max Ernst in 1972.
Belongs to the suite "Judith". Limited edition of 500.
Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued.
Godd conditions.
...
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Large Colorful Jerusalem Israeli Judaica Surrealist Lithograph on Heavy Paper
Located in Surfside, FL
THis is a fabulous, Surrealist lithograph in bright fauvist colors by Hasidic mystic Boruch Nachshon
It depicts jerusalem with King David and a menorah in a Jerusalem Landscape.
Bar...
Category
20th Century Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Bottom of Summer Oceans, Abstract Surrealist Painting
Located in Surfside, FL
Sebastian Matta-Clark was born in 1943, twin of Gordon Matta-Clark. Son Of Chilean Surrealist Roberto Matta
Sebastian, known as Batan died in 1976.
He showed 3 exhibitions in his sho...
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Idols - Lithograph by Max Ernst - 1972
By Max Ernst
Located in Roma, IT
Idols is a lithograph on Arches paper realized by Max Ernst in 1972.
Belongs to the suite "Judith". Limited edition of 500.
Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued.
Godd conditions.
T...
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Something
Located in Kansas City, MO
David Morris
Something
Digital Painting on Archival Paper
Year: 2023
Size: 24x24in
Edition: 15
Signed, numbered and dated by hand on label to be attached verso
COA provided
Ref.: 924...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Gentle hands that rule the world. 2020. Canvas, cardboard, oil, 60x42 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Globe and glove. 2020. Canvas, cardboard, oil, 60x42 cm
Juris Dimiters (1947)
Education:
1958-1965 Janis Rozentals Art High School of Riga
1965-1973 ...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil, Canvas, Cardboard
Figurative Surrealism, "Tara Goddess of Love and Compassion"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a pre-owned secondary market painting by Gloria Muriel. It is a framed figurative surrealist painting made with acrylic paint on canvas. Its dimensions are 9.5 x 13.5 in (L x...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic, Canvas
An evening. Acrylic painting, Pop art, Vibrant colors, Polish artist
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary figurative acrylic on canvas painting by Polish artist Marta Rynkiewicz. Painting is very colorful and vibrant. It depicts a landscape at the pool. The composition consi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
"Migration" Colorful Contemporary Surrealist City Landscape Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Colorful surrealist landscape painting by contemporary Texas artist Henry David Potwin. The work features a group of tanks moving from one side of the city to the other. Signed in fr...
Category
Early 2000s Surrealist Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Le Lézard aux Plumes d'Or - Lithograph by Joan Miró - 1971
By Joan Miró
Located in Roma, IT
"Le Lézard aux Plumes d'Or" is an original lithograph realized by Joan Miró in 1971, and part of the famous homonym series.
Hand signed and numbered, it is an H.C. (out of commerce)...
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Flower Reflection by Gerard Tunney, Portraiture, Contemporary art, original
Located in Deddington, GB
Flower reflection [2022]
original and hand signed by the artist
acrylic on canvas
Image size: H:30 cm x W:40 cm
Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:30 cm x W:40 cm x D:3cm
Sold Un...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic
1960's/ 70's French Surrealist Signed Oil Colorful Girl over Orange City
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: French School, circa 1960's-1970's, signed lower left.
Title: Surrealist view of a colorful lady standing before a classical city (Milan?) hazed in orange.
Medium...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil
1960's British Surrealist Oil Painting - 'Yellow and Orange Leafs' Abstract
By Elvic Steele
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning original oil painting by Elvic Steele depicting this surrealist fantasy abstract painting.
Elvic Steele is a fascinating English painter. Her works entrance the observer, d...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil
1960's British Surrealist Oil Painting - Orange 3 Leaf Clover Abstract
By Elvic Steele
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning original oil painting by Elvic Steele depicting this surrealist fantasy abstract painting.
Elvic Steele is a fascinating English painter. Her works entrance the observer, d...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil
Sunny Day IV
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The figurative surrealistic paintings of Carlos Gamez de Francisco are heavily influenced by his Cuban upbringing in a Russian governed academia setting. This presence exposed Franci...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Original Vintage Poster Roussillon By Dali For SNCF Railways Butterfly Design
Located in London, GB
Original vintage travel poster advertising Roussillon featuring butterflies and figures in a red frame with yellow lines of light from the centre and a person with a butterfly castin...
Category
1960s Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper
Pyramid Chromatic Tone Indica - l Acrylic Painting by Frida & Raul -2020
Located in Roma, IT
Pyramid chromatic tone indicator is a beauty painting with wooden frame by the Italian artists Frida & Raul in 2020. It is realized by abstract tecni...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Acrylic
1960's British Surrealist Oil Painting - Sunset Colours Abstract
By Elvic Steele
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning original oil painting by Elvic Steele depicting this surrealist fantasy abstract painting.
Elvic Steele is a fascinating English painter. Her works entrance the observer, d...
Category
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil
Marsh Flight, Steady My Steed, limited edition photograph, archival, signed
By Tom Chambers
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 Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Dust bowl Texas Sunset with Dramatic Sky Windmill - Orange and Yellow landscape
Located in Miami, FL
While on assignment in 1980 for a Life Magazine story on drought in Texas, Mitchell Funk encountered this vast landscape near Wichita Falls. A windmill with a wood fence and barn...
Category
1980s Surrealist Art
Materials
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
"Ruth Glaneuse (Ruth Gleaning), " Original Color Lithograph by Marc Chagall
By Marc Chagall
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Ruth Glaneuse (Ruth Gleaning), M 246/269" is an original lithograph by Marc Chagall. This original color lithograph was designed for and printed by VERV...
Category
1960s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Figurative Surrealist Oil Painting, "Dile Que No"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original oil and resin painting by San Diego artist, Julia San Roman. Its dimensions are 36" x 60" It is unframed. A certificate of authenticity will follow d...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Message
Located in ATLANTA, GA
Georgian artist Merab Gagiladze was born in Tbilisi.
In 1987 he began his formal art education at the Tbilisi College of Art, School of Ceramics.
In 19...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil
the egg farmer, fantasy man among ostriches
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 imagina...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Pastel, Archival Paper
A Prosperous Man
Located in ATLANTA, GA
Georgian artist Merab Gagiladze was born in Tbilisi.
In 1987 he began his formal art education at the Tbilisi College of Art, School of Ceramics.
In 19...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil
"Adam et Ève Chassés du Paradis Terrestre" Original Color Lithograph by Chagall
By Marc Chagall
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Adam et Ève Chassés du Paradis Terrestre (Adam and Eve are Banished from Paradise), M 237/260" is an original lithograph by Marc Chagall. This original c...
Category
1960s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Bride
Located in ATLANTA, GA
Georgian artist Merab Gagiladze was born in Tbilisi.
In 1987 he began his formal art education at the Tbilisi College of Art, School of Ceramics.
In 19...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil
Marino Marini - Rider - Original Lithograph
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Marino Marini - Rider - Original Lithograph
1955
Dimensions: 32 x 24 cm
From the art review XXe siècle
Unsigned and unumbered as issued
Category
1950s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Unexplicable (teal art apricot lady brown vintage earth tone nostalgia fur coat
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
keywords; surrealism, fruit, ripe fruit, humour, apricot, fur coat lady, uncanny, lady, vintage, earth tones, oil painting, figurative painting, str...
Category
2010s Surrealist Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Jean Arp (after) - Composition - Pochoir
By Jean Arp
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Jean Arp (after) - Composition - Pochoir
1958
Dimensions: 32 x 24 cm
From the art revue XXe siècle
Unsigned and unumbered as issued
Category
1930s Surrealist Art
Materials
Stencil
"Le Visage d'Israël (The Face of Israel), M 231, " an Original Color Lithograph
By Marc Chagall
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Le Visage d'Israël (The Face of Israel), M 231," is an original lithograph by Marc Chagall. It was created as a part of "Verve, revue artistique et littéraire," Vol. X No 37-38. Thi...
Category
1960s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
African Lady - Original Mixed Media by Sergio Barletta - 1997
Located in Roma, IT
African Lady is an original painting and collage artwork in mixed media -ink, tempera and watercolor- realized by Sergio Barletta in 1997
Hand-signed on ...
Category
1990s Surrealist Art
Materials
Ink, Tempera, Watercolor, Mixed Media
Marino Marini - Original Lithograph
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Marino Marini - Knight - Original Lithograph
1970
Dimensions: 32 x 24 cm
From the art review XXe siècle
Unsigned and unumbered as issued
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
The Capture of the Hippogriff - Drawing by Fabrizio Clerici - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
The Capture of the Hippogriff is an enchanting drawing in watercolor and china ink realized by Fabrizio Clerici.
Hand-signed on the lower margin.
In excellent conditions.
The artw...
Category
1960s Surrealist Art
Materials
Ink, Watercolor
Scarecrow with Nesting Birds
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'Aiwa' and dated 1996.
A substantial, pen and ink and watercolor figural study of a scarecrow dressed in cap, ragged jacket and vest with a pair of birds perche...
Category
1990s Surrealist Art
Materials
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
Salvador Dali - At The Beach - Lithograph
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Salvador Dali - At The Beach - Original Handsigned Lithograph
Dimensions: 51 x 71 cm
1970
Signed in pencil and numbered
Edition : /CXX
References : Field 70-8
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
La vierge d'Israel
By Marc Chagall
Located in Paris, FR
Original lithograph by Marc Chagall from The Bible of 1960
"La vierge d'Israël"
Unsigned
35 x 26 cm
Excellent condition
Category
1960s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Passage - Original Mixed Media by Sergio Barletta - 1994
Located in Roma, IT
Passage is original mixed media, ink, tempera, and watercolor, realized by Sergio Barletta in 1994.
Hand-signed on the lower right. Titled on the lower center, dated on the lower l...
Category
1990s Surrealist Art
Materials
Mixed Media
"The Red Studio" - Surreal Figurative Interior Scene
Located in Soquel, CA
Surreal large-scale figurative abstract depicting two nude female figures in a red interior space juxtaposed by a bearded man seated next to a sculptural bust of a man, with a white skeleton in the foreground by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b. 1957). Titled "The Red Studio...
Category
Early 2000s Surrealist Art
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Composition - Vintage Collotype Print after A. Masson - Early 20th century
By André Masson
Located in Roma, IT
Surrealist Composition is an original collotype print realized after a drawing by André Masson.
The artwork is in good conditions, no signature on a yellowed paper.
André Masson (1...
Category
Early 20th Century Surrealist Art
Materials
Black and White
Cahiers d'art, Surrealist Composition 1
By Joan Miró
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Cahiers d'art, Surrealist Composition 1
Pochoir, 1934
Unsigned as issued in Cahier's edition
Published in Cahier's d'art, 1934
Unsigned Edition of 1200
There was also a pencil signed...
Category
1930s Surrealist Art
Materials
Stencil
Cain et Abel
By Marc Chagall
Located in Paris, FR
Original lithograph by Marc Chagall from The Bible of 1960
"Cain et Abel"
Unsigned
35 x 26 cm
Excellent condition
Category
1960s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
"Rachel Dérobe les Idoles de son Père (Rachel Hides her Father's Idols)" Chagall
By Marc Chagall
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Rachel Dérobe les Idoles de son Père (Rachel Hides her Father's Idols), M 242/265" is an original lithograph by Marc Chagall. This original color lithograph was designed for and pri...
Category
1960s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Woman with Rose and Bird - Original handsigned lithograph
By Corneille
Located in Paris, FR
Corneille
Woman with Rose and Bird, 1985
Original lithograph
Handsigned
Justified EA
On vellum 56 x 76 cm (c. 22 x 30 inch)
Excellent condition
Category
1990s Surrealist Art
Materials
Lithograph
Surrealist art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist art 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 art 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, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró, and Leonor Fini. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Lithograph 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 art, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available. Prices for art 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 $1 and tops out at $1,450,000, while the average work sells for $1,426.
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