Summary- Visual Arts(Surrealism)

Surrealism
Characteristics
 Founded by Andre Baton
 Dreams- took imagery from dreams, translated it into realistic images that
were positioned illogically
 illogical over logical, subconscious over conscious, dreams over reality
 Heavily influenced by Psychoanalysis as they believed dreams and the
subconscious reflect what our conscious supresses
 Appreciated convulsive/shocking beauty
 Wanted to create mystery
 Images often bare two meanings (visual puns) and hidden messages

Brushstrokes and other techniques
 Fine brushstrokes
 Surface was smooth not tactile
 Hyper-real and dream-like use of colour

Automatism
 A technique used by Sigmund Freud to reveal his patient's subconscious
mind
 Creativity is automatic in a hypnotic way as they paint/draw with no
preconceived idea
 Characterised by organic, amoeba-like shapes
 Based off of the theory of chance


Automatic- handwriting, fottage, decalcomania, mixing oil, water, paint

Fottage
Paper would be drawn over a texture object to transfer the print of that object

Automatic Handwriting
Where one draws without consciousness and the drawing is analysed for signs

Decalcomania
Black paint is applied to a piece of paper, and another is compressed onto it and
then removed to create a picture

Rene Magritte
 Used image of bowler-hatted man to show that he preferred the middle-
class lifestyle
 Previously did advertisement which can be seen in the style of his
artworks
 His art was expressionless and clearly portrayed the matter of his work