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Surrealist Photography

SURREALIST STYLE

In the wake of World War I’s ravaging of Europe, artists delved into the unconscious mind to confront and grapple with this reality. Poet and critic André Breton, a leader of the Surrealist movement who authored the 1924 Surrealist Manifesto, called this approach “a violent reaction against the impoverishment and sterility of thought processes that resulted from centuries of rationalism.” Surrealist art emerged in the 1920s with dreamlike and uncanny imagery guided by a variety of techniques such as automatic drawing, which can be likened to a stream of consciousness, to channel psychological experiences.

Although Surrealism was a groundbreaking approach for European art, its practitioners were inspired by Indigenous art and ancient mysticism for reenvisioning how sculptures, paintings, prints, performance art and more could respond to the unsettled world around them.

Surrealist artists were also informed by the Dada movement, which originated in 1916 Zurich and embraced absurdity over the logic that had propelled modernity into violence. Some of the Surrealists had witnessed this firsthand, such as Max Ernst, who served in the trenches during World War I, and Salvador Dalí, whose otherworldly paintings and other work responded to the dawning civil war in Spain.

Other key artists associated with the revolutionary art and literary movement included Man Ray, Joan Miró, René Magritte, Yves Tanguy, Frida Kahlo and Meret Oppenheim, all of whom had a distinct perspective on reimagining reality and freeing the unconscious mind from the conventions and restrictions of rational thought. Pablo Picasso showed some of his works in “La Peinture Surréaliste” — the first collective exhibition of Surrealist painting — which opened at Paris’s Galerie Pierre in November of 1925. (Although Magritte is best known as one of the visual Surrealist movement’s most talented practitioners, his famous 1943 painting, The Fifth Season, can be interpreted as a formal break from Surrealism.)

The outbreak of World War II led many in the movement to flee Europe for the Americas, further spreading Surrealism abroad. Generations of modern and contemporary artists were subsequently influenced by the richly symbolic and unearthly imagery of Surrealism, from Joseph Cornell to Arshile Gorky.

Find a collection of original Surrealist paintings, sculptures, prints and multiples and more art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Surrealist
Art Deco Paris - Eiffel tower Place du Trocadéro Statues " Slave to Love" Gold
Located in Miami, FL
Reminiscent of the dreamy elegance of a bygone era, Mitchell Funk transforms a tourist location into the quintessence of timeless Paris chic. To achieve this the photographer had to rid the Trocadero of toursits. Next came choosing the right camera angle and lighting the scene dramatically. The photo recalls Brian Ferry...
Category

1990s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Ed's at Rockefeller Center, Sci-Fi Surreal
Located in Miami, FL
An unexpected marquee at the base of upscale 30 Rockefeller Center beams neon into the night. The 1930's art deco monolith is lit up like a silver spaceship as it thrusts into an ink...
Category

1990s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Golden Reflections off Manhattan Skyscrapers
Located in Miami, FL
Signed, dated, numbered lower right, recto 3/15, Unframed, other sizes available, printed later, Printed on Hahnemühle Fine Art paper Mitchell Funk is a "Color Photographer Pioneer...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Inkjet

“Has Found Out Thy Bed” (FRAMED) Photography 20x30 inch Ed. of 5 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Has Found Out Thy Bed” (FRAMED) Photography 20x30 inch Ed. of 5 by Brian Ziff “Has Found Out Thy Bed” (2016) Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag 20” X 30” inch ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

"Modern Traditions 1" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Modern Traditions 1" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Modern Traditions 2" Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition 1/7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Modern Traditions 2" Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition 1/7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Six" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Six" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available size...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

“Inside Out 2” (FRAMED) Photography 24" x 36" inch Edition of 7 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
Inside Out 2” (FRAMED) Photography 24" x 36" inch Edition of 7 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag American Dreams -...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

“Smoke and Mirrors” (FRAMED) Photography 30" x 24" in Edition 1/12 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Smoke and Mirrors” (FRAMED) Photography 30" x 24" in Edition 1/12 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag American Dreams - From "Playboy" series. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

"Lily 2" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Lily 2" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

“Nectar” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Nectar” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag From "Unbearable Lightness...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

"Pygmalion and Galatea" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Pygmalion and Galatea" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

“Inner Space” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Inner Space” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag From "Unbearable Lightness...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Rag Paper, Archival Ink, Giclée

“Red Bull” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Red Bull” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag From "Unbearable Lightness...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Rag Paper, Archival Ink, Giclée

“Your Joy is My Low” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Your Joy is My Low” Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag From "Unbearable Lightness...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Rag Paper, Archival Ink, Giclée

"Geometry 1" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Geometry 1" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Availa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Bird Master circus series exotic daguerreotype reproduction
Located in Lafayette, LA
exotic daguerreotype reproduction In the bustling world of 1890s circus sideshows, there was a reserved and stoic figure who commanded the attention of audiences with his awe-inspir...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Inkjet

"Moon Birth 3" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Moon Birth 3" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Availab...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Suzanne Camp Crosby "Enchanted Forest" 1989 Original Photograph
Located in Larchmont, NY
Suzanne Camp Crosby (American, 1948-2020) Enchanted Forest, 1989 Cibachrome Sight: 14 3/4 x 14 3/4 in. Framed: 23 x 22 x 7/8 in. Signed and inscribed bottom: 2/25, Suzanne Camp Crosb...
Category

1980s Surrealist Photography

Materials

C Print

“Tramp Stamp 1” (FRAMED) Photography 30" x 24" inch Edition 1/12 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Tramp Stamp 1” (FRAMED) Photography 30" x 24" inch Edition 1/12 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag American Dreams - From "Playboy" series. T...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

Ripple Effect ll
Located in East Hampton, NY
Ripple Effect II Year: 2018 Medium: Photography (printed on metal) Size: 30" x 20" (larger sizes available - inquire within) 16x24 on metal - $750 20x30 on metal - $950 Made to Order...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Metal

"Stardust" Photography 24" x 30" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Stardust" Photography 24" x 30" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Olha Ste...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Armenian Mirror
Located in Boca Raton, FL
New York-based, Armenian-born artist, Tigran Tsitoghdzyan, is especially interested in how people interact in this new era of technology and social media. His “Mirrors” series sugges...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Moon Birth" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition 4/7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Moon Birth" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition 4/7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Geometry" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 5/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Geometry" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 3/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Peter Saville Vinyl Record Art
By Peter Saville
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Peter Saville vinyl record art 2007: Off-set print on vinyl record. Measure: 12 x 12 inches Excellent condition. Published by Visionaire Fashion, 2007; unsigned from an edition of ...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Offset, Plastic

“Protect Your Heart” Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Protect Your Heart” Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag From the "Aequinoctium" series Brian Ziff is...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

Untitled (Portrait of Roberta Kimmel Cohn)
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Untitled (Portrait of Roberta Kimmel Cohn) Silver gelatin print on photographic paper c. 1981 Signed with the photographer's hand stamp verso From a presentation portfolio given the ...
Category

1980s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"I Love You Anna" Photography 31" x 47" inch Edition of 3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"I Love You Anna" Photography 31" x 47" inch Edition of 3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Av...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"No Time" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"No Time" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available si...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Invisibility Hat" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Invisibility Hat" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Av...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Like No One is Watching, limited edition color print, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Like No One is Watching, limited edition color print, signed and numbered Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettabl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

In Voluptas Mors (Dalí)
Located in Dallas, TX
In 1951, Salvador Dali, everyone's favorite mustachioed surrealist, teamed up with Magnum photographer Philippe Halsman to create one of the most enchanting, morbid and bizarre photo...
Category

1950s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Our House, limited edition color print, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Our House, limited edition color print, signed and numbered Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's im...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Original Ed 1/15 Photograph “Boy with Four Arms” GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM Provenance
Located in New York, NY
Up for sale is an original Joel-Peter Witkin photograph. It’s an original photograph, Edition 1 of 15 Guggenheim Museum Provenance and also sold through Sotheby’s 2012 The Boy wit...
Category

1980s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Surreal Brooklyn Bridge with Blue Sky Golden Windows and Red Kite
Located in Miami, FL
Why is this view of the Brooklyn Bridge, a blue sky, and golden windows no longer visible? The image is a creation from Mitchell Funk's mind. It comprises three photographs with colo...
Category

1970s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

"Aerial 2" Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Aerial 2" Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Clean Air - Oversize Signed
Located in London, GB
Clean Air - Oversize Signed 40x30" inches / 101 x 76 cm paper size by Irie Wata Surrealist artist surreal surrealism dali modern dreamscape strange stranger things landsc...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Prunella and Sylvie
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Helmut Newton (1920-2004) was one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century, known for his unflinching, heavily eroticized images of women. Born in 1920 in Berlin, Newton’...
Category

1970s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Polaroid

"Place for People" Photography 27.5" x 24" inch Edition 5/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Place for People" Photography 27.5" x 24" inch Edition 4/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"I Love You Anna" Photography 24" x 16" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"I Love You Anna" Photography 24" x 16" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. A...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Aerial 2" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Aerial 2" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Availabl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Aerial 3" Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Aerial 3" Photography 31" x 31" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Available...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Invisibility Hat" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Invisibility Hat" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Ava...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"I Love You Anna" Photography 24" x 35.5" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"I Love You Anna" Photography 24" x 35.5" inch Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Cream” Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff
Located in Culver City, CA
“Cream” Photography 36" x 28" inch Edition of 24 by Brian Ziff Giclee (Archival Ink) Print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag From "Rite of Spring" series In this melancholy series, we ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée

Japanese Samurai-exotic daguerreotype reproduction Framed
Located in Lafayette, LA
In the circus sideshows, where audiences gathered to witness the exotic and the extraordinary, there was a remarkable performer named Hiroshi, who portrayed a samurai. His act was a ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Inkjet

"Invisibility Hat" Photography 39" x 39" in Edition 2/3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Invisibility Hat" Photography 39" x 39" in Edition 2/3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Avai...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Mystical Transcendent Orange Sunset Big Sky
Located in Miami, FL
A spectacular vast orange sunset dominates the sky as tiny onlookers gaze up and out with amazement. The image has a surreal quality to it and the relationship to the sky and people...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Three Circus Pugs - enchanting exotic daguerreotype reproduction Framed
Located in Lafayette, LA
n the circus, laughter and delight were paramount. At the heart of this spectacle was the head clown, a jolly and charismatic figure who brought joy to audiences with every mischievo...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Inkjet

"Man 's World" Photography 27.5" x 20" inch Edition 2/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Man 's World" Photography 27.5" x 20" inch Edition 2/15 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Not framed. Ships in a tube. Ol...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Wonder Room, limited edition color print, signed and numbered
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Wonder Room, limited edition color print, signed and numbered Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

quartet of circus images -exotic daguerreotype reproductions Framed
Located in Lafayette, LA
Here are 4 small framed images of daguerreotype reproductions featuring the Circus. The images are of a circus announcer, bingo, the Circus Elephant , a gypsy fortune teller , and ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Photography

Materials

Inkjet

Vanilla
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Transport of Delight
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Night Feast
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Writer
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Realist
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Maggie Taylor's digital creations are emblematic, afterimages that invite, transport, and are unforgettable. Taylor's images are built, layer by layer and object by object, through a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Surrealist photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist photography available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, red, orange, purple and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Mitchell Funk, Rosemary Ellis, Brian Ziff, and FPA Francis Pavy Artist. Frequently made by artists working with Paper, and Photographic Paper and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Surrealist photography, so small editions measuring 4.5 inches across are also available. Prices for photography made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $110 and tops out at $28,800, while the average work sells for $1,750.

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