Skip to main content

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.

to
1,598
3,733
1,651
2,216
995
1,067
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
21
29
6,163
3,451
4
19
126
111
161
546
1,540
1,941
515
307
18
119,514
64,191
56,757
28,959
14,499
6,748
6,152
4,199
3,204
2,523
2,379
2,151
575
5,922
2,610
953
4,088
2,573
1,485
1,284
1,239
1,107
1,045
548
335
325
321
317
279
258
248
235
173
136
129
110
2,877
2,408
1,725
1,681
1,640
844
425
321
255
211
1,717
2,763
5,608
3,685
Style: Surrealist
STEPPIN OUT Signed Lithograph, Stone Men, Fantasy Sci-fi Landscape
STEPPIN OUT Signed Lithograph, Stone Men, Fantasy Sci-fi Landscape

STEPPIN OUT Signed Lithograph, Stone Men, Fantasy Sci-fi Landscape

By De Es Schwertberger

Located in Union City, NJ

STEPPIN OUT is a hand drawn original lithograph by the Austrian artist De Es Schwertberger printed using hand lithography techniques on archival Arches printmaking paper 100% acid free. STEPPIN OUT is a highly detailed figurative drawing printed in light sepia brown ink depicting a procession of muscular stone men walking...

Category

1990s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Nile Jade Harp 1998 Signed Lithograph on Arches Paper Mourlot Paris
Nile Jade Harp 1998 Signed Lithograph on Arches Paper Mourlot Paris

Nile Jade Harp 1998 Signed Lithograph on Arches Paper Mourlot Paris

Located in Rochester Hills, MI

Artist : Nile Jade Title: HARP Year: 1998 Lithograph on Arches Archival Paper Paper Size 29" x 35" inches Signed in pencil and marked 100/299 Printed by Mourlot Paris Nile Jade was...

Category

1990s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Nile Jade Justine Guitar 1998 Signed Lithograph Mourlot Paris
Nile Jade Justine Guitar 1998 Signed Lithograph Mourlot Paris

Nile Jade Justine Guitar 1998 Signed Lithograph Mourlot Paris

Located in Rochester Hills, MI

Artist: Nile Jade Title: Guitar, Year: 1998 Lithograph on Arches Archival Paper Paper Size 28.5" x 38.5" inches Signed in pencil and marked 192/299 Printed by Mourlot Paris Nile Ja...

Category

1990s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

La Une a L'h Pile (Head to Head), Surrealist Aquatint Etching by Roberto Matta
La Une a L'h Pile (Head to Head), Surrealist Aquatint Etching by Roberto Matta

La Une a L'h Pile (Head to Head), Surrealist Aquatint Etching by Roberto Matta

By Roberto Matta

Located in Long Island City, NY

An early large-scale work by Chilean artist Roberto Matta. In this black-and-white surrealist piece, various figures can be seen in various acts. Signed and numbered in pencil. This edition is not from the Arabic numbered edition of 40. La Une a L’h Pile (Head to...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

"Opera"
"Opera"

"Opera"

By Natalia Kolpakova 1

Located in Edinburgh, GB

Opera is a fantastical silk print by Natalia Kolpakova, featuring a regal Saint Bernard and fox in Chinese opera garb amid pagodas, optical illusions, and celestial motifs on vibrant...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Silk, Mixed Media, Digital

Putaine
Putaine

Putaine

By Joan Miró

Located in Palm Desert, CA

‘Putaine' is a work on paper by Spanish artist, Joan Miro. Drawings were among Miro’s most private works. The Fundació Joan Miró holds 5,000 drawings the artist gave personally in 19...

Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Art

Materials

Wax Crayon, India Ink

De trace de pas de trace de…
De trace de pas de trace de…

De trace de pas de trace de…

By Roberto Matta

Located in Fairlawn, OH

De trace de pas de trace de… Color etching with aquatint, 1966 From: Monsour and Matta, Les Damnations, 1966 (11 plates, this one of 7 hors text images) Edition: 85 portfolios in the...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

(after) Julio Gonzalez - "Personnage barbu" pochoir

(after) Julio Gonzalez - "Personnage barbu" pochoir

By Julio González 1

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: pochoir (after the watercolor). Printed in Paris in 1957 by Jacomet and published by the Galerie Berggruen for a rare catalogue. Image size: 6 3/4 x 3 3/4 inches (173 x 97 mm...

Category

1950s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph, Stencil

"Ashore" (2024) Original Oil Painting on Panel
"Ashore" (2024) Original Oil Painting on Panel

"Ashore" (2024) Original Oil Painting on Panel

By Nadezda

Located in Denver, CO

Nadezda's beautiful handmade oil on panel painting "Ashore" (2024) is a portrait of a young girl clutching her face contently while resting in a white decorative chair, captured in a...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

Dutress and Her Cat -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Women, Animals
Dutress and Her Cat -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Women, Animals

Dutress and Her Cat -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Women, Animals

By Akingbade Mayowa

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity About Artist Oluw...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

10 Angry Men
10 Angry Men

10 Angry Men

Located in Zofingen, AG

I have sent my work to over 65 countries and some significant landmarks such as Berkeley Square in London’s Mayfair, 5th Ave New York, Malibu beach in California Hong Kong, Monaco, M...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Oil

Villosa

Dan QuintanaVillosa

$4,608Sale Price|20% Off

Villosa

Located in Dallas, TX

This work was featured at ComplexCon 2019 - November 2nd and 3rd in Long Beach, CA.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Wood, Oil

Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse

Crazy Horse

By Salvador Dalí­

Located in Hollywood, FL

ARTIST: Salvador Dali TITLE: Crazy Horse MEDIUM: Lithograph SIGNED: Hand Signed EDITION NUMBER: 223/250 MEASUREMENTS: 30.5" x 22.25" YEAR: 1968 FRAMED: No CERTIFICATE OF AUT...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Contemporary Figurative Silkscreen Print, Pink Limited Edition "Summer House"
Contemporary Figurative Silkscreen Print, Pink Limited Edition "Summer House"

Contemporary Figurative Silkscreen Print, Pink Limited Edition "Summer House"

By FEROS

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Summer House is a limited edition 5-layer silkscreen print that blends contemporary figuration with playful surrealism. Printed on luxurious Fabriano Rosaspina Ivory paper (104lbs), ...

Category

2010s Surrealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Henry Moore, "Fantasy", original etching
Henry Moore, "Fantasy", original etching

Henry Moore, "Fantasy", original etching

By Henry Moore

Located in Chatsworth, CA

This piece is an original etching created by Henry Moore in 1967. This piece is hand signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 50 on Japon paper. There are also two proofs on...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Etching

Meditation Practice 101 - Figurative Surrealist Portrait Mixed Media Painting
Meditation Practice 101 - Figurative Surrealist Portrait Mixed Media Painting

Meditation Practice 101 - Figurative Surrealist Portrait Mixed Media Painting

By Carlos Gamez de Francisco

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 academic setting. This presence exposed Franci...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Ink, Watercolor, Graphite, Paper

Flower Pot 6 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, Still Life, Nature, Floral

Flower Pot 6 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, Still Life, Nature, Floral

By Akanji Bolaji

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Aka...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The Body and Eye, Etching by Hans Bellmer
The Body and Eye, Etching by Hans Bellmer

The Body and Eye, Etching by Hans Bellmer

By Hans Bellmer

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Hans Bellmer, German (1902 - 1975) Title: The Body and Eye Year: circa 1965 Medium: Etching, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 46/70 Image Size: 10.5 x 8 inches Frame...

Category

1960s Surrealist Art

Materials

Etching

Untitled IV (Jörg Remé, Jörg Krichbaum, ~43% OFF - MUST GO)
Untitled IV (Jörg Remé, Jörg Krichbaum, ~43% OFF - MUST GO)

Untitled IV (Jörg Remé, Jörg Krichbaum, ~43% OFF - MUST GO)

By Jörg Remé

Located in Kansas City, MO

Joerg Reme Untitled IV from "von den Stunden" Folio Color Lithograph on handmade paper with deckled edges 1972 Size: 11.75 x 8.325 inches (29.8 × 21.1 cm) Edition: 31 of 250 Signed i...

Category

1970s Surrealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Helmet Head / - Futuristic Archaism -
Helmet Head / - Futuristic Archaism -

Helmet Head / - Futuristic Archaism -

Located in Berlin, DE

Karl-Heinz Deutsch (*1940 Karlsruhe), Helmet Head, around 2003. Polished and patinated bronze, 23.5 cm (height) x 25.5 cm (length) x 16 cm (depth), weight 4.9 kg. Monogrammed on the ...

Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Art

Materials

Bronze

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.