Book Description
Surrealism is an authoritative and systematic survey of one of the twentieth century’s most influential and longest-lasting art movements. Formally emerging in 1924, Surrealism was shaped and sustained for more than forty years under the leadership of André Breton, becoming France’s most significant avant-garde artistic movement before rapidly expanding across Europe and the Americas to assume global cultural importance.
During the Second World War, many Surrealist artists and writers were forced into exile. Their activities in the United States generated a powerful creative impact on the American art scene and became a major intellectual and formal influence on the Abstract Expressionist generation. Although the Surrealist movement as an organized entity came to an end with Breton’s death in 1966, its influence has never faded. Surrealist imagery and ideas continue to permeate contemporary art, while remaining deeply embedded in cinema, advertising, and mass media.
Written by the distinguished scholar and translator Mary Ann Caws, this book offers a clear, incisive, and engaging analysis of the defining characteristics of Surrealism. Tracing the movement’s development through a lucid chronological framework, Caws highlights the extraordinary diversity and creative vitality of Surrealism, while emphasizing the essential interdependence between its visual art and literary production.
The works section presents an extensive selection of high-quality colour plates, each accompanied by detailed captions. Organized into six thematic chapters, the book follows the movement from its origins in the 1920s through its evolution in the 1940s and 1950s, revealing the key ideas and artistic concerns that shaped each phase. The material spans painting, sculpture, photography, film, and experimental art practices, offering a comprehensive view of Surrealism’s cross-disciplinary nature.
In addition, the “Documents” section brings together essential theoretical writings and newly rediscovered texts. Many of these have been specially translated for this volume, providing readers with direct access to Surrealist thought and language through authoritative primary sources.
More than a comprehensive overview of Surrealism, this book is an indispensable reference for understanding the major shifts in twentieth-century art, thought, and visual culture. It is an essential resource for art historians, artists, and readers interested in the cultural foundations of modern and contemporary creativity.
Details
Author: Mary Ann Caws
Editor: Jonathan Eburne
Designer: Angus Hyland
Publisher: PHAIDON
Format: Hardcover
Size: 29 × 26 cm
Pages: 304 pages