Famous Surrealist Paintings

Surrealism became one of the most bizarre and intriguing styles of art. It started in the early 1920s. This style was an exploration into the unknown for many artists wanting to look into the deeper imagery and meaning of dream and other subconscious imaginations. At this time artists like Salvadore Dali and Jean Miro stood out from the rest.

The Persistence of Memory Salvador Dali

Spanish artist Salvador Dali created this artwork in 1931 which is also known as The Melting Clocks or The Melting Watches. It became the most famous surrealist painting ever created. The image has been reproduced many times ove on prints, posters, and T-shirts.

The watches epitomize Dali's theory of softness or hardness and were said to represent the surrealist perception of Camembert cheese melting in the sun. Looking at the painting in the lower left corner is an orange pocket watch covered with ants. The artist would used ants to symbolize decay in this artwork.

Swans Reflecting Elephants Salvador Dali

Spanish artist Salvador Dali created this artwork in 1937. The painting depicts a barren canyon with a pool of water in-between. There are beautiful swans in the center. Taking a closer look at the painting one can see that it is a double image when flipped upside down the swans look like elephants standing at the edge of the water.

The Great Masturbator Salvador Dali

Spanish artist Salvador Dali created this artwork in 1929. He commented that it represents, in part, himself at the young age of 25. He was heavily intrigued by the work of Sigmund Freud.

The painting depicts a likeness of the famous rock at Cullero, in Cape Creus, Spain. The large figure is said to represent the artist's inner fears as well as his persistent obsessions. This painting is one of the most recognized artworks in surrealism.

The Treachery of Images Rene Magritte

French artist Rene Magritte created this artwork in 1929. Ceci n'est pas une pipe translates to This is not a pipe. Throughout the 1920s Magritte painted several word images in a series that played upon the idea that words are not things.

The artist made reference to it by the quote:

“It’s quite simple. Who would dare pretend that the REPRESENTATION of a pipe IS a pipe? Who could possibly smoke the pipe in my painting? No one. Therefore it IS NOT A PIPE.”

The Son of Man Rene Magritte

French artist Rene Magritte created this artwork in 1946 and it became one of the most iconic surrealist paintings ever created. It is a self portrait featuring a man wearing a suit and bowler hat with a green apple in front of his face. He is standing in front of a wall overlooking the sea. One eye can be partially seen. Margritte said of this artwork that the main theme was that human nature is to desire seeing that which is hidden.

Harlequin's Carnival Joan Miro

Catalan Spanish artist Joan Miro created this painting in 1924. It is a lively painting that the artist based upon a dream image. It depicts inanimate objects at a fun-filled carnival. The objects appear to be in motion.

The Tilled Field Joan Miro

Catalan Spanish artist Joan Miro created this artwork which is considered to be his greatest. It was created in 1924 taking a surrealist view of his family's farm at Mont-roig del Camp in Catalonia. The sky is depicted in mustard-yellow and the earth in brown tones indicating the sandy soild of the Catalan landscape.

Mama Papa is Wounded Yves Tanguy

French artist Yves Tanguy created this masterpiece of surrealist art in 1927. He said of his artwork that it was an extensive series of research related to war veterans. The painting depicts a bleak landscape with a barren desert that contains only some scattered objects like a cactus, beans, and a stick on the right side of the painting.

The Barbarians Max Ernst

German artist Max Ernst created this artwork in 1937 and it is considered to be his most famous. He was one of the founding members of the surrealist movement.

The painting depicts two prominent figures walking toward a known destination. The darker figure appears to be a female entitiy while the masculine figure appears on the right. The figures seem to be made of ancient rock with fossils.

Battle of Fishes Andre Masson

French artist Andre Masson depicted underwater fish engaging in a never-ending cycle of attacking and eating one another. It is a reference to the terrors of WW I which ended shortly before the artists created this masterpiece.