A collection of both of the Manifestoes of Surrealism written by Andre Breton in 1924 and 1929. The pocket book size to make the two manifestoes more accessible in print without being part of some collected works.

Two Surrealist Manifestos were issued by the Surrealist movement, in 1924 and 1929. They were both written by Andr� Breton. Andr� Breton was explicit in his assertion that Surrealism was, above all, a revolutionary movement. The first Surrealist manifesto was written by Breton and published in 1924 as a booklet (Editions du Sagittaire). The document defines Surrealism as:"Psychic automatism in its pure state, by which one proposes to express - verbally, by means of the written word, or in any other manner - the actual functioning of thought. Dictated by thought, in the absence of any control exercised by reason, exempt from any aesthetic or moral concern." Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for its visual artworks and writings. The aim was to "resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality". Artists painted unnerving, illogical scenes with photographic precision, created strange creatures from everyday objects and developed painting techniques that allowed the unconscious to express itself.

Presents the essential ideas of the founder of French surrealism

In the early 20th century, radical art movements transformed traditional art forms by challenging established norms and redefining the boundaries of art. The manifestos of Surrealism, Dada, and Futurism reflect the innovative ideas of these movements, such as Andre Breton's focus on the unconscious mind as the foundation for artistic expression and Hugo Ball's rejection of societal norms in favor of chaos and chance. Luigi Russolo's Art of Noises manifesto proposed a revolutionary approach to music that explored sound as an artistic medium. This compilation of manifestos offers valuable insights into the core principles of these movements and their ongoing impact on contemporary art. Published by Zem Books.

Long unavailable in English, Surrealism and Painting remains one of the masterworks of twentieth-century art criticism."--BOOK JACKET.