The Significance of Surrealism and Cubism in 20th-Century Art
Surrealism and cubism are two of the 20th century’s most significant and groundbreaking art movements. Despite defying established creative norms, they both embody distinct methodologies, ideologies, and aesthetic principles. To understand the distinctions between Surrealism and Cubism, we must examine the background, methods, important artists, and philosophical foundations of each movement. Although both movements significantly influenced contemporary art, their objectives and approaches were quite different. This article will explore the differences between surrealism and cubism, focusing on their histories, characteristics, methods, and key figures.
The History of Surrealism and Cubism
The Birth of Cubism: Picasso and Braque’s Partnership
Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque’s partnership in Paris during 1907 catalysed the emergence of cubism in the early 20th century. Picasso’s famous painting *Les Demoiselles d’Avignon* (1907), which broke with conventional perspective and depiction, is often considered the birthplace of the movement. Cubism aimed to show objects from many angles at once, breaking them down into their most fundamental geometric forms. The introduction of photography, which questioned conventional ideas of perspective and visual representation in painting, influenced this fragmented approach to depicting reality. Cubism went through many stages, each with its own unique characteristics, such as analytical cubism and synthetic cubism.
The Rise of Surrealism: André Breton and the Exploration of the Unconscious
On the other hand, poet André Breton led the literary and artistic movement known as Surrealism in the 1920s. Surrealism sought to investigate the subconscious, the irrational, and the dreamlike, drawing on Sigmund Freud’s theories about the unconscious mind and dream interpretation. The movement aimed to push the limits of awareness and reality, often depicting the inner workings of the mind through fanciful and strange images. Surrealism was significantly influenced by Dadaism, an earlier avant-garde movement that rejected reason, logic, and traditional aesthetics in favour of spontaneity and absurdity.
Philosophical Foundations: Exploring Reality Through Art
Cubism’s Reinterpretation of Reality
Surrealism and cubism have vastly different intellectual foundations. The primary goal of cubism was to reinterpret reality. By presenting objects from many perspectives at once, it sought to break away from the perspective-based standards of Renaissance painting. The world was changing rapidly due to advancements in industry, science, and technology, prompting a break from traditional portrayals. Paul Cézanne’s paintings, which prioritised forms and volumes over perspective, significantly impacted the Cubist movement and served as a model for Picasso and Braque’s revolutionary experimentation.
Surrealism: Uncovering the Hidden Realities of the Unconscious Mind
In contrast, surrealism was primarily concerned with the essence of reality itself. By exploring the subconscious, surrealists aimed to overcome the conscious mind’s limitations on human creativity and expression. They hoped to uncover deeper truths about the human condition. Surrealist artists sought to portray the thoughts, imaginations, and desires of the unconscious mind. The movement embraced automatism, which held that artists should allow their subconscious to guide their creative process rather than exercising conscious control.
Key Philosophical Differences: Abstract Reality vs. Dreamlike Exploration
Surrealism focused more on depicting the irrational and bizarre, pulling from the depths of the unconscious mind. Cubism, on the other hand, concentrated on abstract shapes and the reconfiguration of reality. Surrealism offered a more profound and enigmatic exploration of the human mind, aiming to transcend ordinary reality.
Styles and Techniques of Art: Contrasting Approaches
Cubist Visual Style: Geometric Forms and Multiple Perspectives
Surrealism and cubism also diverge greatly in their visual styles and artistic techniques. Cubism is characterised by the use of geometric shapes and fragmented forms. Cubist painters deconstructed still lives, portraits, and landscapes into overlapping planes, lines, and sharp forms. These planes often blurred the traditional boundaries between perspective and depth, enabling the simultaneous viewing of multiple viewpoints.
Colour and Collage in Cubism: From Analytical to Synthetic
In the early stages of Analytical Cubism, painters used subdued colour schemes, primarily focusing on tones of brown, grey, and ochre, to emphasise abstract shapes and complex structures. As the movement progressed into synthetic cubism, artists began using brighter colours, simpler forms, and incorporating collage elements. To create a more tactile and textured surface, they included materials like wallpaper, newspaper clippings, and other found objects into their works.
Surrealism’s Exploration of the Unconscious: Techniques and Methods
In contrast, surrealism employed a wide range of techniques to explore the unconscious mind. Automatism, one of the most well-known surrealist methods, involved artists creating works spontaneously, without premeditated ideas or plans. By bypassing the conscious mind, this technique allowed the subconscious to take control of the creative process. The result was surreal and sometimes disturbing imagery that aimed to subvert conventional notions of reality.
Additional Surrealist Techniques: Frottage and Decalcomania
To achieve surprising and often bizarre effects, surrealists also employed techniques like frottage, which involved rubbing textures from objects onto paper or canvas. They also used decalcomania, where paint was pressed into paper or canvas to create random textures. Distortion and juxtapositions were common in surrealist works, with odd pairings of unrelated items or figures placed in unusual settings, enhancing the surreal and eerie quality of the art.
Important Artists and Pieces: Icons of Surrealism and Cubism
Famous Cubist Artists: Picasso, Braque, and Others
Both surrealism and cubism were influenced by important artists, and their works have become icons of each movement. The two most prominent cubist figures are Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Picasso’s *Les Demoiselles d’Avignon* (1907) is often regarded as the seminal work that marked the birth of Cubism. Another of Picasso’s well-known pieces, *Guernica* (1937), combines the angular, fragmented shapes typical of Cubism while being produced during a time of conflict. Braque expanded on the principles of Analytical Cubism with works like *Violin and Candlestick* (1910), highlighting the complexity of form and perspective.
Other Notable Cubist Figures
In addition to Picasso and Braque, other artists associated with Cubism include Fernand Léger, who is known for his vivid use of colour in Cubist-inspired works, and Juan Gris, renowned for his contributions to Synthetic Cubism.
Surrealist Masters: Dalí, Magritte, and More
Surrealism was shaped by artists such as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Max Ernst, and Joan Miró. One of the most iconic surrealist works is Dalí’s *The Persistence of Memory* (1931), featuring melting clocks. René Magritte’s 1964 painting *The Son of Man*, which depicts a man with his face obscured by a floating apple, is a perfect example of surrealist fascination with the strange and fantastical. Joan Miró’s *The Tilled Field* (1923) and Max Ernst’s *The Elephant Celebes* (1921) also exemplify surrealist use of dreamlike and strange imagery.
Key Distinctions Between Surrealism and Cubism
Philosophical Approach to Reality: Reinterpreting vs. Uncovering the Hidden
Both Surrealism and Cubism rejected traditional art forms and sought to depict reality in new ways. The key differences between the two can be summarised as follows:
Artistic Techniques: Geometric Analysis vs. Surreal Imagination
Cubism focused on manipulating perspective, geometric patterns, and fragmented forms. In contrast, surrealism used techniques like automatism, frottage, and decalcomania to create illogical and dreamlike images.
Visual Style: Abstract Shapes vs. Dreamlike Imagery
Cubist paintings are often characterised by abstract shapes, muted colour schemes, and intricate compositions. Surrealist works, on the other hand, tend to feature vivid, often shocking imagery, distorted shapes, and strange juxtapositions.
Artists Who Defined the Movements: Picasso and Braque vs. Dalí and Magritte
Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque are the central figures of Cubism, while Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, and Max Ernst are the most famous artists of Surrealism.
