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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
Empreinte de main sur fond jaune (Handprint on Yellow Background)
Empreinte de main sur fond jaune (Handprint on Yellow Background)

Empreinte de main sur fond jaune (Handprint on Yellow Background)

By Joan Miró

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Empreinte de main sur fond jaune (Handprint on Yellow Background), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 87–89, originates from the 1956 edition publis...

Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Joan Miro, Untitled, from Miro, Recent Unpublished Work, 1964
Joan Miro, Untitled, from Miro, Recent Unpublished Work, 1964

Joan Miro, Untitled, from Miro, Recent Unpublished Work, 1964

By Joan Miró

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Miro, Obra Inedita Recent (Miro, Recent Unpublished Work), originates from the 1964 e...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

"Honey” Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff

"Honey” Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff

By Brian Ziff

Located in Culver City, CA

“Honey” Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag Signed and numbered by the artist Comes with COA signed by th...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

Old Faust
Old Faust

Old Faust

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Old Faust Etching from 1969. The edition 18/145. Dimensions of work: 38 x 28 cm. Hand signed. Publisher: Graphik Europa Anstalt. Reference: R. Michl...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

La Fanfarlo 2 - Female Women
La Fanfarlo 2 - Female Women

La Fanfarlo 2 - Female Women

By Leonor Fini

Located in London, GB

This work is hand signed in pencil by the artist "Leonor Fini" in the lower right corner. It was part of the portfolio 'La Fanfarlo' that included 13 lithographs by Fini. It was pri...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

4505 Transformaciones 1, Painting, Oil on Canvas

4505 Transformaciones 1, Painting, Oil on Canvas

By Andres Vivo

Located in Yardley, PA

Belongs to my uman social behaviour series Inspired by the crude realities that Francisco Goya painted :: Painting :: Surrealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - Mother
French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - Mother

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - Mother

By Helen Uter

Located in Paris, IDF

Oil on canvas Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper, she create...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Luna, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Luna, Painting, Oil on Canvas

By Heather Ireland

Located in Yardley, PA

Wild, bright and bold, Luna's gaze of daydreaming wonder. Original oil painting of Heather Ireland's Surrealism series. :: Painting :: Surrealism :: This piece comes with an official...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - Ocean Girl

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - Ocean Girl

By Helen Uter

Located in Paris, IDF

Acrylic on canvas Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper, she cr...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Little Violin" Black & White Photography 31" x 31" in Ed 1/7 by Olha Stepanian

"Little Violin" Black & White Photography 31" x 31" in Ed 1/7 by Olha Stepanian

By Olha Stepanian

Located in Culver City, CA

"Little Violin" Black & White Photography 31" x 31" in Ed 1/7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Comes with COA issued by th...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper

Our Mysteries (Diptych)
Our Mysteries (Diptych)

Our Mysteries (Diptych)

By Juan Álvarez Cebrián

Located in CAMPO REAL, ES

Our Mysteries is a diptych in oil on linen, where symbolism and texture come together to evoke deep emotions. With its panoramic dimensions of 200x81 cm, this work unfolds across two...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil

Detrás
Detrás

Detrás

By Juan Álvarez Cebrián

Located in CAMPO REAL, ES

"Detrás", Behind, it is a work that invites reflection and contemplation. Its square format and careful composition divide the space into two vertical strips, each with its own sym...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil

Vesna – 14-03-22, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Vesna – 14-03-22, Painting, Oil on Canvas

By Corne Akkers

Located in Yardley, PA

Shifting Gear Another Risque painting depicting my muse Julia Filament. Two oil paintings earlier I already did an Ukrainian theme but why not use it once again. After all, the Ru...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil

Leonor Fini, Untitled, from The Flowers of Evil, 1964
Leonor Fini, Untitled, from The Flowers of Evil, 1964

Leonor Fini, Untitled, from The Flowers of Evil, 1964

By Leonor Fini

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Leonor Fini (1907–1996), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil), originates from the 1964 issue published by Le Cercl...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

“Foreign Bodies” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff

“Foreign Bodies” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff

By Brian Ziff

Located in Culver City, CA

“Foreign Bodies” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag Signed and numbered by the artist Comes with COA sig...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

Goldfish XLIII, Painting, Oil on MDF Panel
Goldfish XLIII, Painting, Oil on MDF Panel

Goldfish XLIII, Painting, Oil on MDF Panel

By Daniel Loveday

Located in Yardley, PA

A further exploration of the Goldfish theme. Painting onto a solid surface allows the colours to be more concentrated and richer. This painting is sold without a frame but pleas...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil

"Garden Temple", Surrealist Landscape, Collage, Acrylic Painting
"Garden Temple", Surrealist Landscape, Collage, Acrylic Painting

"Garden Temple", Surrealist Landscape, Collage, Acrylic Painting

By John Baker

Located in Franklin, MA

John Baker's "Garden Temple" is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 29 13/16 x 23 7/8 inches in greens and blues. The temple alludes to the veneration of nature, while the col...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic

Joan Miro, Untitled, from Miro, Recent Unpublished Work, 1964
Joan Miro, Untitled, from Miro, Recent Unpublished Work, 1964

Joan Miro, Untitled, from Miro, Recent Unpublished Work, 1964

By Joan Miró

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Miro, Obra Inedita Recent (Miro, Recent Unpublished Work), originates from the 1964 e...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare II), 1971
The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare II), 1971

The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare II), 1971

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in Greenwich, CT

The Taming of the Shrew is a print from Salvador Dalí's homage to Shakespeare - "Shakespeare II" from 1971. An etching on paper, the image size is 6.75 x 5 inches and the framed siz...

Category

20th Century Surrealist Art

Materials

Paper, Etching

Charmin

Greg Craola SimkinsCharmin

$800Sale Price|20% Off

Charmin

By Greg Craola Simkins

Located in Dallas, TX

He grew up with a menagerie of animals including a number of rabbits, which often emerge in his paintings. He began drawing at the early age of three and was inspired by various cartoons and books. Some standout books that still find their way into his art are Watership Down...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Charcoal

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - Chiens N.1

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - Chiens N.1

By Helen Uter

Located in Paris, IDF

Oil on canvas Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced by Edward Hopper, she creat...

Category

1990s Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - The crow

French Contemporary Art By Helen Uter - The crow

By Helen Uter

Located in Paris, IDF

Acrylic on paper, Framed 42 x 42 x 3 cm Helen Uter is an established Franco-American painter born in 1955 who lives and works in Donnery, near Orléans, France. Heavily influenced b...

Category

1990s Surrealist Art

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Joan Miro, Blue Bird, from Derriere le Miroir, 1964
Joan Miro, Blue Bird, from Derriere le Miroir, 1964

Joan Miro, Blue Bird, from Derriere le Miroir, 1964

By Joan Miró

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Oiseau Bleu (Blue Bird), originates from the 1963 folio Derriere le Miroir, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, under the direction of Aime Maeght, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris. Executed during the height of Miro’s mature period, this poetic composition embodies the artist’s fascination with the interplay between form, color, and cosmic symbolism. Through his lyrical use of line and vibrant hues, Miro transforms the image of the bird—a recurring motif in his visual language—into a jubilant expression of freedom and imagination. Oiseau Bleu exemplifies Miro’s capacity to merge spontaneity and precision, creating a timeless dialogue between abstraction and dreamlike vision. Executed on velin paper, this lithograph measures 22 x 15 inches (55.9 x 38.1 cm), as issued. Signed in the plate and unnumbered, as issued. The edition reflects Miro’s mastery of both color and gesture, fusing Surrealist spontaneity with the refined craftsmanship of the Mourlot ateliers. Artwork Details: Artist: Joan Miro (1893–1983) Title: Oiseau Bleu (Blue Bird), from Derriere le Miroir, 1963 Medium: Lithograph on velin paper Dimensions: 22 x 15 inches (55.9 x 38.1 cm), as issued Inscription: Signed in the plate and unnumbered, as issued Date: 1963 Publisher: Maeght Editeur, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue Raisonne Reference: Cramer, Patrick, and Joan Miro. Joan Miro, Catalogue Raisonne des Livres Illustres. P. Cramer, Geneva, 1989, illustration 87 Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the 1963 folio Derriere le Miroir, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris Notes: Excerpted from the folio (translated from French): Taken from this special issue of “Behind the Mirror,” CCCL examples on velin de Rives were numbered, constituting the original deluxe edition of Derriere le Miroir. The lithographs for this issue were printed in the ateliers of Mourlot Editeur, Levallois. The text was printed by Fequet et Baudier, typographers. Finished printing 1963. About the Publication: Derriere le Miroir (translated as "Behind the Mirror") was an iconic French art periodical published from 1946 to 1982 by Maeght Editeur, one of the most influential art publishers of the 20th century. Founded by Aime Maeght in Paris, the publication was conceived as a visual and literary collaboration between leading modern artists, poets, and critics. Each issue functioned as both an exhibition catalogue and a work of art in itself—featuring original lithographs printed directly from the artists' stones or plates, alongside essays, poems, and critical commentary. Over the course of 36 years, Derriere le Miroir produced more than 250 issues and showcased an extraordinary roster of artists including Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Joan Miro, Georges Braque, Alexander Calder, Fernand Leger, Pierre Bonnard, Alberto Giacometti, Eduardo Chillida, Ellsworth Kelly, Francis Bacon, Paul Rebeyrolle, Claude Garache, Antoni Tapies, Bram van Velde, Pierre Alechinsky, Pol Bury, Shusaku Arakawa, and Gerard Titus-Carmel. Printed in the ateliers of Mourlot, Arte, and Imprimerie Moderne du Lion, the periodical set new standards for quality in color lithography, combining fine art printing with elegant typography and poetic text. Beyond its visual brilliance, Derriere le Miroir also became a cultural chronicle of postwar European modernism. Each issue coincided with exhibitions held at Galerie Maeght, providing a collectible and widely accessible record of groundbreaking shows. Its integration of image, text, and philosophy created a dialogue between art and literature that elevated the modern art book to new aesthetic heights. Today, Derriere le Miroir remains one of the most sought-after and historically significant art publications, prized by collectors and scholars alike for its craftsmanship, influence, and its role in defining the visual language of 20th-century modernism. The Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence continues to honor this legacy through exhibitions and archival preservation of the series, affirming Derriere le Miroir's enduring place in the history of modern art and fine art publishing. About the Artist: Joan Miro (1893–1983) was a Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramicist whose imaginative, dreamlike vision helped spearhead the Surrealist movement and left an indelible mark on modern art. Born in Barcelona and deeply rooted in Catalan culture, Miro moved to Paris in the early 1920s where his playful shapes, cosmic motifs, and childlike yet sophisticated abstractions broke new ground alongside the great innovators of his time. His artistic dialogue aligned with contemporaries such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dali, Jackson Pollock, Georges Braque, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, each of whom challenged the conventions of form, color, and symbolism. Miro distilled these ideas into a uniquely poetic visual vocabulary—birds, stars, and bold spectral forms emerging from flat planes of color—that has inspired scores of artists and continues to influence modern and contemporary masters including Banksy, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, and Jasper Johns. His works are represented in leading museums worldwide, including MoMA, the Guggenheim, the Tate, and the Centre Pompidou, and remain highly sought after by collectors. The highest price ever paid for a Joan Miro artwork is approximately $37.06 million USD, achieved in June 2012 at Sotheby’s London for Peinture (Etoile Bleue) (1927). Joan Miro Oiseau...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Characters in a Surrealist Landscape, Oil on Canvas, Signed, 1930s
Characters in a Surrealist Landscape, Oil on Canvas, Signed, 1930s

Characters in a Surrealist Landscape, Oil on Canvas, Signed, 1930s

By Lucien Coutaud

Located in London, GB

'Characters in a Surrealist Landscape', oil on canvas, by Lucien Coutaud (1931). A couple entwine with the male character seemingly in grief, the female not returning with a comforting embrace. In the distant landscape a sole character meanders. This painting seems to be a creation of the artist's dreams, perhaps reflecting events in his personal life. It seems there is a relationship problem. In the world of Surrealists, there is a focus on the unconscious mind through Freudian methods of free association, trance-like states or dreams. Some Surrealists practiced psychic 'automatism' which was automatic writing or drawing, turning off the conscious mind and producing streams of words or images directly from the unconscious. In unlocking the unconscious in this way, Surrealism was individually expressed (Ref. 'The Short Story of Art...

Category

1930s Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil

Yggdrasil

By Andrew McIntosh

Located in London, GB

Andrew McIntosh is a Scottish artist originally from the Highlands and currently based in London. His paintings have the air of a Highland gothic mystery, but shot through with cosmi...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Linen, Oil

Le Lion et le Rat - Etching by Marc Chagall - 1952

Le Lion et le Rat - Etching by Marc Chagall - 1952

By Marc Chagall

Located in Roma, IT

Etching on Montval paper, realized between 1927 and 1930. Table from "Les Fables de La Fontaine", published in 1952 in and edition of 200. Hand signed in pencil. Very good conditi...

Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Etching

Arigato Diptych Acrylic on Canvas
Arigato Diptych Acrylic on Canvas

Arigato Diptych Acrylic on Canvas

By Malgosia Kiernozycka

Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL

Arigato diptych, acrylic on canvas. Malgosia Kiernozycka was born in Wroclaw, Poland. She graduated high school at the School of Fine Arts and received a scholarship from the Min...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Night Moth
Night Moth

Night Moth

Located in New York, NY

Color etching and aquatint, 1946. Third state (of 3). Signed by the artist in pencil, lower right margin, and numbered 199/300 in pencil, lower left margin. Published by Laurel Ga...

Category

1940s Surrealist Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Kneeling Knight
Kneeling Knight

Kneeling Knight

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Kneeling Knight Etching from 1969. The edition 63/145. Dimensions of work: 38 x 28 cm. Hand signed. Publisher: Graphik Europa Anstalt. Reference: R....

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Etching

Amsterdam (Surrealist Black Philadelphia Artist)
Amsterdam (Surrealist Black Philadelphia Artist)

Amsterdam (Surrealist Black Philadelphia Artist)

By Roland Ayers

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Surrealist proto-Afropunk drawing by African-American artist, Roland Ayers (1932-2014). Amsterdam, 1967. Ink on paper, 9.5 × 12.5 inches; 16 × 19 inches framed. Signed and dated,...

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.