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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
1970’s French Surrealist Signed Oil Painting Abstract Robot Sculpture
1970’s French Surrealist Signed Oil Painting Abstract Robot Sculpture

1970’s French Surrealist Signed Oil Painting Abstract Robot Sculpture

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Tristan Fabris 1970's, French Surrealist artist Abstract Surrealist Figurative study oil on canvas, unframed signed and dated 75' inscribed verso canvas: 32 x 34 inches private colle...

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Joan Miro, Figures Before the Sun, from Derriere le miroir, 1950
Joan Miro, Figures Before the Sun, from Derriere le miroir, 1950

Joan Miro, Figures Before the Sun, from Derriere le miroir, 1950

By Joan Miró

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Personnages devant le soleil (Figures Before the Sun), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 29–30, originates from the 19...

Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

The Prophet - Héliogravure by Marc Chagall - 1960
The Prophet - Héliogravure by Marc Chagall - 1960

The Prophet - Héliogravure by Marc Chagall - 1960

By Marc Chagall

Located in Roma, IT

Héliogravure on brown-toned paper, so signature. Héliogravure  on bot sheets, recto and verso. Edition of 6500 unsigned copies. Printed by Mourlot and published by Tériade, Paris. ...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Photogravure

Ugolino - Woodcut print - 1963
Ugolino - Woodcut print - 1963

Ugolino - Woodcut print - 1963

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in Roma, IT

Ugolino is a woodcut print realized in 1963 for a series illustrating the Medieval poem of the "Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri. Good conditions. Limited edition of 2900, realiz...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Woodcut

Heaven Touches Kawela: 3, Oil Painting
Heaven Touches Kawela: 3, Oil Painting

Heaven Touches Kawela: 3, Oil Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Mountains and sea merge in this abstract landscape, where shifting forms and colors reveal a world suspended between calm and chaos. Each stroke carries depth, ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil

Andre Masson, Untitled, from XXe Siecle, 1972
Andre Masson, Untitled, from XXe Siecle, 1972

Andre Masson, Untitled, from XXe Siecle, 1972

By André Masson

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Andre Masson (1896–1987), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie, XXXIVe Annee, No. 38, Juin 1972, originates from the 1...

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Sator - Etching - 1960s
Sator - Etching - 1960s

Sator - Etching - 1960s

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in Roma, IT

Etching on chamois-colored laid paper, realized in 1968/69. Plate from "Faust (La Nuit de Walpurgis), published by Argillet, Paris. Edition of 49/150, hand colored. Hand signed an...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Etching

Still Life. 1994. Cardboard, oil, 57x69 cm
Still Life. 1994. Cardboard, oil, 57x69 cm

Still Life. 1994. Cardboard, oil, 57x69 cm

By Janis Zemitis

Located in Riga, LV

Janis Zemitis graduated from the Riga Art School of J. Rosenthal in 1958, in 1964 Art Academy of Latvian State, painting department, Head of the diploma work "Working in the forest" ...

Category

1990s Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Le Singe et le Leopard
Le Singe et le Leopard

Le Singe et le Leopard

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist: Salvador Dali (Spanish surrealist, 1904-1989) Title: Le Singe et le Leopard Year: 1976 Medium: Engraving with hand color stencil Edition: Inscribed E....

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Engraving

Six Birds
Six Birds

Six Birds

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork "Six Birds" c.1990, is an acrylic painting on canvas by Mexican artist Gustavo Martinez, b.1941. It is signed at the lower left corner by the artist. The canvas size is ...

Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Hard Margins - Woodcut - 1963
Hard Margins - Woodcut - 1963

Hard Margins - Woodcut - 1963

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in Roma, IT

Hard Margins - Hell Plate 19, is a woodcut print realized in 1963 for a series illustrating the Medieval poem of the "Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri. Not signed, as issued. G...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Woodcut

Silu Niu Animal Original Acrylic On Canvas "Waitting - Blue"
Silu Niu Animal Original Acrylic On Canvas "Waitting - Blue"

Silu Niu Animal Original Acrylic On Canvas "Waitting - Blue"

Located in New York, NY

Title: Waitting - Blue Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 39 x 31 inches Frame: Framing options available! Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition. Note: This pai...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Joan Miro, Untitled, from Derriere le miroir, 1967 (after)
Joan Miro, Untitled, from Derriere le miroir, 1967 (after)

Joan Miro, Untitled, from Derriere le miroir, 1967 (after)

By Joan Miró

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph after Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the 1967 folio Derriere le miroir, L'oiseau solaire, l'oiseau lunaire, etin-celle...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

'Encircled' — Mid-Century Surrealism, Atelier 17
'Encircled' — Mid-Century Surrealism, Atelier 17

'Encircled' — Mid-Century Surrealism, Atelier 17

Located in Myrtle Beach, SC

Ian Hugo, 'Encircled', engraving, 1946, edition 50. Signed, dated, titled, and numbered '5/50' in pencil. With the blind stamp 'madeleine-claude jobrack EDIT...

Category

1940s Surrealist Art

Materials

Engraving

Momotaro (Peach boy)
Momotaro (Peach boy)

Momotaro (Peach boy)

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Momotaro (Peach boy) Drypoint etching with stencil from 1974. The edition of XVII/LXXV on Richard de Bas paper. Dimensions of work: 66 x 52 cm. Hand signed. Publisher: Gerschmann, Stockholm/ Yayoi, Tokyo. Reference: Field 76-1 A; Michler/Löpsinger 745. The work is in Excellent condition. -- Momotaro (Peach Boy) - The brave child born from a peach who defeats demons with courage and loyalty. Momotaro is Japan’s quintessential folk hero — a child miraculously born from a giant peach, raised by humble farmers, and destined to defeat the oni (demons) on a distant island. In Dalí’s version, the narrative becomes a surreal allegory of rebirth and moral strength. The floating organic forms...

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Drypoint, Etching

ORSA MAGGIORE #7506

Wifredo LamORSA MAGGIORE #7506, 1975

$3,712Sale Price|25% Off

ORSA MAGGIORE #7506

By Wifredo Lam

Located in Aventura, FL

From a set of 6 done in 1975 at Pollenza-Macerata, Nuova Foglia Editrice. Hand signed and numbered by Wifredo Lam. Edition EA of 8. Artwork size 31.5 x 25.5 inches. Framed. Artw...

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

BREEZINESS. Original Painting by Stasy Vo
BREEZINESS. Original Painting by Stasy Vo

BREEZINESS. Original Painting by Stasy Vo

Located in Zofingen, AG

Imagine the warm smell of summer. Here you go to the park in a high mood. And there everything is in bloom, there are lovely flowers spread in the field, the sun is pleasantly warmin...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

1960’s French Surrealist Abstract Collage Oil Painting Nude Figurative Work
1960’s French Surrealist Abstract Collage Oil Painting Nude Figurative Work

1960’s French Surrealist Abstract Collage Oil Painting Nude Figurative Work

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

French Surrealist artist, circa 1960’s oil painting on canvas with stuck on magazine art, unframed canvas: 15 x 18 inches provenance: private collection, Paris condition: overall good

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil, Magazine Paper

Avars - Woodcut - 1963
Avars - Woodcut - 1963

Avars - Woodcut - 1963

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in Roma, IT

Avars -  "The Divine Comedy" - Song 20 -  Purgatory is a woodcut print realized in 1963 for a series illustrating the Medieval poem of the "Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri. Plate n...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Woodcut

Hommage a Albrecht Durer Venus & Cupid
Hommage a Albrecht Durer Venus & Cupid

Hommage a Albrecht Durer Venus & Cupid

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in Hollywood, FL

ARTIST: Salvador Dali TITLE: Hommage a Albrecht Durer Venus & Cupid MEDIUM: Etching SIGNED: Hand Signed PUBLISHER: Vision Nouvelle EDITION NUMBER: EA MEASUREMENTS: 22" x 30" ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Etching

La Botte violette
La Botte violette

La Botte violette

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - La Botte violette Etching from 1969. 66/145 on Japan paper. Dimensions of work: 38 x 28 cm. Hand signed. Publisher: Graphik Europa Anstalt. Referenc...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Etching

Cat Friends

Cat Friends

By Leonor Fini

Located in Columbia, MO

LEONOR FINI Cat Friends 1973 Color lithograph Ed. 157/230 12.5 x 9 inches

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Magritte, Composition, Les chants de Maldoror (after)
Magritte, Composition, Les chants de Maldoror (after)

Magritte, Composition, Les chants de Maldoror (after)

By René Magritte

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin papier pur chiffon paper. Paper Size: 10 x 7.375 inches. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Notes: From the album, Les chants de Maldoror, illustrat...

Category

1940s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Joan Miro, Lithograph II, from Lithographs II, 1975
Joan Miro, Lithograph II, from Lithographs II, 1975

Joan Miro, Lithograph II, from Lithographs II, 1975

By Joan Miró

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Lithograph II, from the album Joan Miro Lithographs, Volume II, originates from the 1975 edition published by Leon Amiel, New York, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1975. Lithograph II reflects Miros poetic mastery of line, movement, and color, capturing his lifelong pursuit of visual rhythm and lyrical abstraction. Combining spontaneity and control, this composition embodies Miros signature balance of playful geometry and poetic energy—translating instinct and imagination into a harmonious field of motion and light. Executed as a lithograph on velin paper, this work measures 12.5 x 9.625 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the refined craftsmanship and technical mastery of Mourlot Freres, Paris, one of the foremost printmaking ateliers of the 20th century. Artwork Details: Artist: Joan Miro (1893–1983) Title: Lithograph II, from the album Joan Miro Lithographs, Volume II, 1975 Medium: Lithograph on velin paper Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.625 inches (31.8 x 24.4 cm) Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1975 Publisher: Leon Amiel, New York Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue raisonne references: Cramer, Patrick, and Joan Miro. Joan Miro, Catalogue Raisonne Des Livres Illustres. P. Cramer, 1989, illustration 198. Cramer, Patrick. Joan Miro: Lithographs Volume V 1972–1975. Maeght, 1992, illustration 1038. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the album Joan Miro Lithographs, Volume II, published by Leon Amiel, New York; printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1975 Notes: Excerpted from the album, The original Joan Miro lithographs were printed by Mourlot, the illustrations by Arte Adrien Maeght, and the text by Imprimerie Union, Paris, France. V̅ examples of this English-language edition, numbered I-V̅, have been printed. A deluxe French edition of CL examples, numbered I-CL, with II additional original lithographs signed by Joan Miro, and LXXX suites, numbered I-LXXX, containing the XIII original lithographs on velin with wide margins and with each lithograph signed by the artist, have also been printed. About the Publication: Joan Miro Lithographs, Volume II, published in 1975 by Leon Amiel, New York, with lithographs printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, is the second installment in the monumental four-volume series documenting Miros complete lithographic work. The project was conceived as both an artistic and scholarly endeavor, uniting Miro’s technical innovation with comprehensive cataloguing of his print oeuvre. Volume II chronicles an essential period in Miros career—from 1950 to 1956—when his exploration of symbolic abstraction, vibrant color, and gestural spontaneity reached new levels of expressive freedom. The collaboration between Miro and the master lithographers at Mourlot resulted in works of exceptional brilliance and vitality, capturing the artist’s playful yet deeply spiritual sensibility. The album was produced with meticulous attention to detail, printed on the highest-quality velin paper, and accompanied by essays and documentation that provide historical and artistic context. Issued in English and French-language editions, Joan Miro Lithographs, Volume II stands as a landmark in 20th-century printmaking—testament to the enduring creative partnership between Miro, Mourlot, and the publishers Maeght and Amiel. About the Artist: Joan Miro (1893–1983) was a Catalan painter, sculptor, printmaker, and ceramicist whose visionary imagination and lyrical abstraction made him one of the most influential and beloved artists of the 20th century. Born in Barcelona, Miro drew inspiration from Catalan folk art, Romanesque frescoes, and the luminous landscapes of Mont-roig del Camp, developing a deep connection to nature that infused his work with vitality and symbolism. After formal training at the Escola d'Art in Barcelona, he absorbed the lessons of Post-Impressionism and Cubism before moving to Paris in the early 1920s, where he became a leading figure in the Surrealist movement. There, Miro forged a personal visual language of biomorphic shapes, floating symbols, and radiant color harmonies that reflected both spontaneity and spiritual depth. In creative dialogue with peers such as Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, he helped revolutionize modern art by dissolving the boundaries between abstraction and dream imagery. Miros inventive approach extended far beyond painting, embracing sculpture, ceramics, and monumental public commissions that redefined how art could interact with space and emotion. His expressive freedom and gestural abstraction profoundly influenced later artists including Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Alexander Calder, Jean Dubuffet, Antoni Tapies, and Joan Mitchell, inspiring generations who sought to merge instinct, color, and imagination. Today, Miros work remains a cornerstone of modernism, prized by collectors and celebrated in major museums worldwide. His highest auction record was achieved by Peinture (Etoile Bleue) (1927), which sold for 23,561,250 GBP (approximately 37 million USD) at Sotheby's, London, on June 19, 2012. Joan Miro Lithograph II...

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Pink House
Pink House

Pink House

By Fanny Brennan

Located in New York, NY

Created by Surrealist Fanny Brennan from 1992-96, Pink House is an original lithograph in colors on wove paper, hand-monogrammed by the artist in pencil and numbered from the edition...

Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Alexander Calder, Untitled, from XXe Siecle, 1952
Alexander Calder, Untitled, from XXe Siecle, 1952

Alexander Calder, Untitled, from XXe Siecle, 1952

By Alexander Calder

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Alexander Calder (1898–1976), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie No. 3 (double), Juin 1952, originates from the 1952...

Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Book Circle
Book Circle

Book Circle

By Fanny Brennan

Located in New York, NY

Created by Surrealist Fanny Brennan from 1992-96, Book Circle is an original lithograph in colors on wove paper, hand-monogrammed by the artist in pencil and numbered from the editio...

Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Large Antique American Modernist Abstract Surreal Framed MCM Oil Painting
Large Antique American Modernist Abstract Surreal Framed MCM Oil Painting

Large Antique American Modernist Abstract Surreal Framed MCM Oil Painting

Located in Buffalo, NY

Antique American modernist abstract surreal oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. In excellent original condition. Handsomely framed in a modernist wood molding. Excellent condition,...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Animal Surrealist Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Circle Life Birds
Animal Surrealist Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Circle Life Birds

Animal Surrealist Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Circle Life Birds

By Isabel Rock

Located in Norfolk, GB

Isabel Rock is a creator of contemporary fairy tales. A graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, her work is an explosion of strange occurrences while a surreal narrative takes the audience on a journey into the imagination. Hugely inspired by Paula Rego, Isabel Rock is part of a formidable group of women artists (Leonora Carrington and Eileen Agar amongst others) working with Surrealism. In October 2023 Isabel won the Evelyn Williams...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Paint, Ink, Archival Paper, Pen

Animal Painting Surrealist Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Birds Circle Life
Animal Painting Surrealist Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Birds Circle Life

Animal Painting Surrealist Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Birds Circle Life

By Isabel Rock

Located in Norfolk, GB

Isabel Rock is a creator of contemporary fairy tales. A graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, her work is an explosion of strange occurrences while a surreal narrative takes the audience on a journey into the imagination. Hugely inspired by Paula Rego, Isabel Rock is part of a formidable group of women artists (Leonora Carrington and Eileen Agar amongst others) working with Surrealism. In October 2023 Isabel won the Evelyn Williams...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

The Dust of Souls - Woodcut  - 1963

The Dust of Souls - Woodcut - 1963

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in Roma, IT

The Dust of Souls - The Divine Comedy is a woodcut print realized in 1963 for a series illustrating the Medieval poem of the "Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri. Not signed, as issu...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Woodcut

Mid 20th Century French Surrealist Oil Painting on Canvas, 24x18
Mid 20th Century French Surrealist Oil Painting on Canvas, 24x18

Mid 20th Century French Surrealist Oil Painting on Canvas, 24x18

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

French Surrealist Oil Painting Mid 20th Century Oil painting on canvas, unframed Canvas size: 24 x 18 inches This intriguing oil definitely ignites some expressive thoughts - one in...

Category

20th Century Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil

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.