The Female Surrealists History Forgot | Behind the Masterpiece

Surrealism, a radical 20th century art movement

aimed to shatter traditional constraints and liberate creativity from societal norms.

It transcended the boundaries of an art movement embodying an attitude and a deep

desire for liberation that extended beyond artistic expression, permeating literature,

film, psychology and political activism. Inspired by the psychological theories of

Sigmund Freud, Surrealists plunged into the depths of their subconscious.

Creating art that defied logic through its dreamlike and often irrational juxtapositions.

The devastations that were brought on as a result of World War I served as the backdrop

to surrealism birth, traditional societal structures and beliefs were shattered,

leading to a profound questioning that gave rise to the Dada movement, from which Surrealism later evolved.

While Dadaism used absurdity and nonsense as a form of protest against the senselessness of war,

Surrealism sought to reconcile the conscious and the unconscious realms of experience so

completely that the realm of dream and fantasy will be joined to the everyday rational world.

The movements official recognition came in 1924 with the publication of the manifesto of

Surrealism by André Breton, a French writer and a poet and the leader of Surrealism.

However, despite its revolutionary ideals, the movement's sexism was evident.

In Breton's second manifesto, he says “The problem of woman is the most marvelous and

disturbing problem in all the world.” In this one sentence he showcases surrealism’s misogyny.

Women were central to the movement, but only as muses, not as artists in their own right.

Notwithstanding its claim to cultural liberation, Surrealism inclusivity was constrained by the

prejudices of its leading figures.

While artists like Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, and Max Ernst

often dominate the discussions, their prominence reflects societal privileges as much as artistic merit.

It's critical to remember that many influential female artists also shaped Surrealism.

Their significant impact often overlooked due to the overshadowing fame of their male peers.

First up, we have Frida Kahlo. Universally celebrated, her

artworks embody both personal hardship and the complexities of cultural identity.

Stricken with polio and a debilitating bus accident,

Kahlo found peace in art while bedridden.

She created deeply honest and poignant portrayals of her physical suffering and emotional turmoil.

That's what we see in her remarkable pieces, her vulnerability.

She depicts herself with raw honesty, and courageously lets us in without hesitation. This

standout piece "Self Portrait Along the Borderline Between Mexico and the United States" exemplifies

her mastery of Surrealism and Symbolism combined with her roots and Mexican folk art.

She stands motionless between two vastly different worlds,

the industrialized United States and the historically rich nature infused Mexico.

Set in the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution, the painting mirrors

the period's rise in national sentiments. Mexico was seeking to redefine its identity,

assert its autonomy and challenge the dominance of its northern neighbor, the United States.