Die Brucke & Surrealism Erin, Reed, Jordan

Surrealism Began in 1924 Imagery inspired by the publication of the Manifesto of Surrealism by André Breton Exploration of dreams and unconsciousness The desire to push against the boundaries of what was socially acceptable Incorporation of chance and spontaneity Offered the idea that dreams have multiple symbolic meanings Investigated complexities of dreams

Salvador Dali Surrealism icon Moved from Spain to Paris and joined the Surrealism movement His work used classical techniques, influenced by Renaissance artists, that contradicted the unreal dream space he created with hallucinatory characters. Invented Paranoiac Critical Method –mental exercise of accessing the subconscious to enhance creativity; interpretation of spontaneous thought patterns Strived to created a reality of his dreams and subconscious thoughts

The Persistence of Memory, 1931 He referred to his painting as “hand painted dream photographs” There is a head-like object lying on the ground with it’s eyes closed, which refers to a dream state Drooping pocket watch suggests the irrelevance of time while being asleep Mastered what he called “the usual paralyzing tricks of eye-fooling” Painted this work with precision to discredit the world of reality and stir up confusion Visual brainteaser and attack on the rational Depicts and open, lonely space that looks deserted The scene is quiet, with no movement and a still ocean Time seems to have melted Shows the cliffs of the Catalonian coast in northern Spain

Dream caused by the flight of a bee around a pomegranate one minute before awakening, 1944 Tranquil marine landscape Marked a return to the Paranoiac Critical Method Depicts Gala, Salvador’s wife, in the midst of a dream Chaotic vision Sexuality is a central theme, like in many surrealist paintings The elephant creature is a symbol of war and destruction, which conveys the mood of terror and confusion- a nightmare Inspired by Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis Expresses the “consequences of the instantaneous of a chance event which causes the sleeper to wake.”

Die Brucke Nollendorfplatz, 1912 By: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner German for “the bridge” A short time period lasting from 1905-1913 Took place in the German cities of Dresden and Berlin Encompassed many different subject matters such as the human figure, landscape, portraiture, and still-life Characterized by bold colors, definitive lines, jagged figures, and distorted shapes Influenced by German Gothic woodcuts Recognized as the birth of Expressionism Also influenced by “barbaric” figures and primitive art Nollendorfplatz, 1912 By: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Ernst Ludwig kirchner Driving force behind the Die Brucke group Wanted to preserve traditional German culture but found inspiration from the modern city Viewed as one of the most influential and talented German artists Sadly became depressed and committed suicide after he fell victim to the Nazi’s campaign to “Degenerate Art” Human figure essential subject matter to Kirchner- had models posing in his art studio

MARZELLA (1909-1910) Ernst Ludwig Kirchner Oil on canvas Harsh lines Painted with rapid sketching technique Intense gaze and heavy face Bright, strong colors Shows how important the human figure was to Kirchner

Street, Berlin (1913) Ernst Ludwig Kirchner Oil on canvas Inside the Museum of Modern Art in New York City Depicts Kirchner’s interest in the modern city Figures have angular and sharp faces Believed that increasing tension in the German culture detached urban individuals from society (painted just before) WWI Many men in background with sullen expressions Street slightly tilted