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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.

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Style: Surrealist
Artist: Leonard Baskin
"Homage to Gene Debs, " 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 ...
Category

1940s Surrealist Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

"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...
Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Drypoint, Etching

"Betrayal, " Woodcut Print on Rice Paper by Leonard Baskin, 1969
Located in Long Island City, NY
This woodcut print on rice paper was created by American artist Leonard Baskin. Baskin is well known for his somewhat grotesque, intricate, surreal drawings and natural subject matte...
Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Woodcut

"Custos Morum (Guardian of Morals)" Woodcut Print on Rice Paper, circa 1950
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 ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

"Self Portrait, " Woodcut Print on Rice Paper by Leonard Baskin, circa 1950
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 ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

"Dierdre, " 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 ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Woodcut, Rice Paper

"The Football Player, " 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 ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Woodcut, Rice Paper

"Portrait of an Irishman, " Woodcut Print on Rice Paper, circa 1952
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 ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

"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 ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Woodcut, Rice Paper

"Mabuse, " Woodcut Print on Rice Paper, circa 1950 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 ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Woodcut, Rice Paper

"Fiorentino, " Woodcut Print on Rice Paper, circa 1950 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 ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

Grotesque, Surrealist Ink Drawing on Paper by Leonard Baskin
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Leonard Baskin, American (1922 - 2000) Title: Grotesque Year: 1969 Medium: Ink on Paper, signed Size: 40 in. x 27.5 in. (101.6 cm x 69.85 cm) Frame Size: 45 x 32 inches
Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Paper, Ink

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Surrealist Salvador Dali Large Pochoir Etching Drypoint Lithograph Chariot Rider
Located in Surfside, FL
Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) – Spanish painter, graphic artist and sculptor. Drypoint with etching and pochoir on Japon paper "Elijah and the Chariot," 1975, (Horse and rider) from the "Our Historical Heritage" suite. Pencil signed along the lower right and numbered 53/250 along the lower left. Literature: Field 75-4 J Framed; Height: 29 in x width: 35 in. Mat opening 19.5 X 25.5. The Spanish artist’s extensive oeuvre not only includes watercolors, drawings and sculptures but also tapestries; here a fine example from the limited edition ‘The Twelve Tribes of Israel’ The tapestry was created after an etching by Salvador Dalí from 1973 with the title ‘The Tribe of Judah’, which the artist created as part of a suite to mark the 25th anniversary of the State of Israel, and in which he represented the twelve tribes of Israel. This vintage French tapestry is an impeccable textile re-creation of a rare Dali etching. This is a flat weave Aubusson style tapisserie. The edition size was 500. The tapestry is inscribed with woven ‘Salvador Dalí’ lower right Genre: Surrealism Subject: people, architecture rendering Medium: textile Salvador Dali (Spanish, 1904-1989) Salvador Dali is considered as the greatest original artist of the surrealist art movement and one of the greatest masters of art of the twentieth century. Dali began to study art at the Royal Academy of Art in Madrid. He was expelled twice and never took the final examinations. His opinion was that he was more qualified than those who should have examined him. In 1928 Dali went to Paris where he met the Spanish painters Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro. He established himself as the principal figure of a group of surrealist artists grouped around Andre Breton, who was something like the theoretical "schoolmaster" of surrealism. Years later Breton turned away from Dali accusing him of support of fascism, excessive self-presentation and financial greediness. By 1929 Dali had found his personal style that should make him famous - the world of the unconscious that is recalled during our dreams. The surrealist theory is based on the theories of the psychologist Dr. Sigmund Freud. Recurring images of burning giraffes and melting watches became the artist's surrealist trademarks. Along with Rene Magritte his is considered the greatest of the Surrealists. His great craftsmanship allowed him to execute his paintings in a nearly photo realistic style. No wonder that the artist was a great admirer of the vintage Italian Renaissance painter Raphael. Meeting Gala was the most important event in the artist's life and decisive for his future career. She was a Russian immigrant and ten years older than Dali. When he met her, she was married to Paul Eluard. In 1933 Salvador Dali had his first one-man show in New York. One year later he visited the U.S. for the first time supported by a loan of US$500 from Pablo Picasso. To evade World War II, Dali chose the U.S.A. as his permanent residence in 1940. He had a series of spectacular exhibitions, among others a great retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He has worked in paining, sculpture, tapestry, Daum glass and prints. Dali became the darling of the American High Society. Celebrities like Jack Warner or Helena Rubinstein gave him commissions for portraits. His artworks became a popular trademark and besides painting he pursued other activities - jewelry and dated clothing designs for Coco Chanel or film making with Alfred Hitchcock. In 1948 Dali and Gala returned to Europe, spending most of their time either in their residence in Ligate/Spain or in Paris/France or in New York. Dali developed a lively interest in science, religion and history. He integrated things into his art that he had picked up from popular science...
Category

1970s Surrealist Art

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Pegasus
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this etching and engraving with color aquatint. Signed, dated and numbered 132/150 in pencil by Dali. Published by Argillet, Paris. From "Mythologie." Cat...
Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Color, Engraving, Etching, Aquatint

Pegasus
H 21.13 in W 24.63 in
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Purgatory Canto 25 is a wood engraving on BFK Rives with an image size of 10 x 7" from the popular French edition of the portfolio. Framed in a classic, gold-tone frame. Cataloging:...
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Purgatory Canto 29 (The Divine Comedy)
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Sumiyoshi: Dengaku dance performed during an Onda ceremony - Woodblock Print
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HELL CANTO 19
Located in Aventura, FL
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1960s Surrealist Art

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Category

1960s Surrealist Art

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Salvador Dali - The Rider and the Deer - Handsigned Engraving
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
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Previously Available Items
Icarus, Lithograph, 1969
Located in Long Island City, NY
This lithograph was created by American artist Leonard Baskin. Baskin is well known for his somewhat grotesque, intricate, surreal drawings and natural subject matter. This lithograp...
Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

"Apartment, " Woodcut Print on Rice Paper, circa 1950
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 ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Art

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Rice Paper, Woodcut

Old Man and Dog, Woodcut Print on Rice Paper by Leonard Baskin, circa 1970
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 ...
Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Woodcut, Rice Paper

"The Tyrant, " Woodcut Print on Rice Paper, circa 1952
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 ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

Thistle, Drypoint Etching in Colors by Leonard Baskin
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...
Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Drypoint, Etching

Man with Spring Flowers, Woodcut by Leonard Baskin
Located in Long Island City, NY
This woodcut was created by American artist Leonard Baskin. Baskin is well known for his somewhat grotesque, intricate, surreal drawings and natural subject matter. This lithograph i...
Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Woodcut

Icarus, Lithograph, 1969
Located in Long Island City, NY
This lithograph was created by American artist Leonard Baskin. Baskin is well known for his somewhat grotesque, intricate, surreal drawings and natural subject matter. This lithograp...
Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

"Frightened Boy and His Dog, " Woodcut Print on Rice Paper, 1954
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 woo...
Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

"Man of Peace, " Woodcut Print on Rice Paper, 1972
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 ...
Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

"The Last Impression-Poet Laureate, " Woodcut Print on Rice Paper, circa 1950
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 ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

Untitled - Head
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Leonard Baskin, American (1922 - 2000) Title: Untitled - Head Year: 1967 Medium: Ink on Paper, signed Size: 25.5 in. x 39 in. (64.77 cm x 99.06 cm) Frame Size: 31.5 x ...
Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Ink, Paper

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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