André Breton

1896–1966

André Breton, ‘Exquisite Corpse’ c.1930
Exquisite Corpse c.1930
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In Tate Liverpool

Constellations: Louise Bourgeois

Free entry

Biography

André Breton (French: [ɑ̃dʁe bʁətɔ̃]; 18 February 1896 – 28 September 1966) was a French writer, poet, and anti-fascist. He is known best as the co-founder, leader, principal theorist and chief apologist of Surrealism. His writings include the first Surrealist Manifesto (Manifeste du surréalisme) of 1924, in which he defined surrealism as "pure psychic automatism".

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Surrealism

Artworks

André Breton, Nusch Eluard, Valentine Hugo, Paul Eluard, ‘Exquisite Corpse’ c.1930

André Breton, Nusch Eluard, Valentine Hugo, Paul Eluard Exquisite Corpse

c.1930
On display at Tate Liverpool part of Constellations T12005
André Breton, ‘I Saluted at Six Paces Commandant Lefebvre des Noëttes (Poem object)’ 1942

André Breton I Saluted at Six Paces Commandant Lefebvre des Noëttes (Poem object)

1942
T03807

Features

Jean Dubuffet, ‘Monsieur Plume with Creases in his Trousers (Portrait of Henri Michaux)’ 1947
Art Term

Outsider art

Outsider art is used to describe art that has a naïve quality, often produced by people who have not trained ...

Max Ernst, ‘Forest and Dove’ 1927
Art Term

Automatism

In art, automatism refers to creating art without conscious thought, accessing material from the unconscious mind as part of the ...

Jake Chapman, Dinos Chapman, ‘Exquisite Corpse’ 2000
Art Term

Cadavre exquis (exquisite corpse)

Cadavre exquis (exquisite corpse) is a collaborative drawing approach first used by surrealist artists to create bizarre and intuitive drawings

Trisha Donnelly Untitled 2010
Tate Papers

Wavelength: On Drawing and Sound in the Work of Trisha Donnelly

Anna Lovatt

Involuntary Drawing
Marey Trace of repeated muscular contractions
Tate Papers

Becoming Machine: Surrealist Automatism and Some Contemporary Instances

David Lomas

Involuntary Drawing
John D. Schiff Installation view of First Papers of Surrealism exhibition, showing Marcel Duchamp’s His Twine 1942
Tate Papers

Drawing in the Dark: Involuntary Drawing

Susan Morris

Susan Morris approaches the subject of involuntary drawing from the point of view of an artist trying to make a ...

Tate Etc. issue 20 magazine cover
Tate Etc

Tate Etc. issue 20: Autumn 2010

Tate Etc. Issue 20 Autumn 2010 online edition of Tate's magazine
Tate Etc. issue 18 magazine cover
Tate Etc

Tate Etc. issue 18: Spring 2010

Tate Etc. Issue 18 Spring 2010 online edition of Tate's magazine
Costumes by Fortunato Depero for his ballet Machine of 3000
Tate Etc

Bring the noise: Futurism

Claire Bishop and Boris Groys

As well as being noted for their avant-garde painting, the Futurists’ performances were legendary for their intent to provoke and ...

Olga Picabia Francis Picabia on his bicycle with his dog Ninie
Tate Etc

The unholy trinity: Duchamp, Man Ray, Picabia

Bernard Marcadé

To coincide with the first exhibition to explore the inter-relationship between Duchamp, Man Ray and Picabia, to be staged at ...

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André Breton, ‘Exquisite Corpse’ c.1930

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1906–1945
André Breton, ‘Exquisite Corpse’ c.1930

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André Breton, ‘Exquisite Corpse’ c.1930

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1895–1952
André Masson, ‘Ibdes in Aragon’ 1935

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1902–1975
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1903–1999
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1890–1976
Yves Tanguy, ‘Azure Day’ 1937

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1900–1955
Francis Picabia, ‘The Handsome Pork-Butcher’ c.1924–6, c.1929–35

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1879–1953
Izis Bidermanas, ‘London’ 1951, later print

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1911–1980
André Fougeron, ‘Atlantic Civilisation’ 1953

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1913–1998
Robert Delaunay, ‘Endless Rhythm’ 1934

Robert Delaunay

1885–1941
Natalia Goncharova, ‘Linen’ 1913

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1881–1962
Jean Crotti, ‘Portrait of Edison’ 1920

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Fernand Léger, ‘Still Life with a Beer Mug’ 1921–2

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