Surrealism In The 20th Century

Surrealism has established itself as one of the most influential styles of the century, visually appealing and intriguing, it has seduced and attracted people’s attention since its early days. It started as a revolutionary cultural movement born in response to the social, economical and political crisis which engulfed society during the beginning of the 20th century.

The term ‘surrealist’ was coined by Guillaume Apollinaire thanks to his play ´les Mamelles de Tirésias’ 1917. I. Surrealism evolved out of the ‘anti-establishment’ and “anti-art" Dada movement based in Paris, most of whose members became surrealists during the early post-war years, forming two groups, one lead by Yvan Goll and the other by Andre Breton. On the contrary of Dadaists,

but was finally accepted as it questioned the rational essence of things Symbolism, with its hidden or unconscious meanings, was an important source of imagery and forms.. Successfully carried out by Magritte, Dali and also Ernst, Yves Tanguy and his wife Kay Sage could be considered a mix between abstraction and figuration too.
Surrealism in fashion

Although principally literary to begin with, the movement quickly expanded into the visual arts and its first painting show - La Peinture Surrealiste - was staged at Gallerie Pierre in 1925. Soon after during the 30´s, surrealism explored a new form of expression which allowed them to introduce their ideals directly onto the human body: fashion

Ever since Elsa Schiaparelli collaborated with Salvador Dali to create her 1937 Lobster-printed dress ,the previously art and literature exclusive movement became popular amongst designers such as Jean Cocteau , Christian Dior or Coco Chanel followed her steps, causing fashion and surrealism to have been constantly intertwined until today playing an important and consistent role in clothing design through the 20th and 21st