How Was Photography Affected Through the Influences of Surrealism?
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Ronnie Ng How was Photography affected through the influences of Surrealism? A poet named Andre Breton who was also believed to have started the surrealist movement in 1924, in which defined surrealism as “psychic automatism in its pure state”. Surrealist photography was considered influenced by Dadaism (1916-1924) Dada began in Zurich Switzerland and were reactions towards current events occurring during the time (World War I). Surrealist artist would mainly focus on the idea of abstraction. For example, reimaging the artist dreams or what was in their minds at the time. Artists would use dreamlike ideas as inspiration and apply them into their works. They believed in their subconscious and expressed their emotions and feelings towards their world through their artworks. The main focus of surrealism would be extending and arranging the way artists feels, and really goes deep inside the artist’s emotions and exploring different mindsets. Surrealism expanded through film and photography. Twentieth century was the outburst of photographers finding out new ways into creating their images. Photographers believe surrealism allows their concept and imaginations to be portrayed within their artworks. Unlike paintings and sculptures; photography is able to capture reality and real life events that have occurred. Artists/Photographers utilize a variety of techniques where it would recreate the object into another state. They believe images that were too ‘real’ are often a replica that already existed in ‘real life’; instead they would often create works, which are created from fantasies in order to make them ‘original’. Man Ray was one of the few photographers to explore the idea of using juxtapositions and “strangeness” in their subjects. His artworks and photos were based on current events that had occurred during the period he was in; in this case the majority of his works were based around technology, factories and femininity that were increasingly growing in numbers. This image created by Man Ray was considered one of his most successful works. The image was created with a mannequin and using glass beads as tears. This implies the fact that fake tears are being used relating to the artists personal life (a breakup). Both eyes glancing to the top corner and eyes widen up suggests a sense of distress. This image is in a Larmes (Tears) juxtaposition where the shot has been angled. Man Ray (American, 1890 - 1976) Paris, France (Place created) The use of close-ups allows the audience to 1930 - 1932 focus on the subject’s emotions yet allowing Gelatin silver print 22.9 × 29.8 cm (9 × 11 3/4 in.) the audience to focus on detail. As the image focuses on the subject’s eyes excluding the mouth, it allows the audiences to self interoperate what the subject is trying to convey. This makes the image surrealist as the artist included fake tears conveying it to be ‘unreal’ and ‘fake’ and also exploring the idea of femininity and how the subject was being portrayed in the image. Solarisation also known as the Rayograph was a technique, which would be often seen in an image made by surrealist photographers. The technique would take place in a dark room where the technique would be easier to execute. This would allow the image to provide the style of imagery of a surrealist photographer that includes shadows, and certain parts would be overexposed. Man Ray was the photographer to reinvent this technique, which was originally discovered by William Jackson in 1857. Photographers such as Maurice Tabard had picked up this technique, and created images with this technique for subjects like portraits and still lives. Unlike Dadaist’s who created collages such as Hannah Hoch and Raoul Hausmann, surrealist Maurice Tabard (French, photographers would rearrange them and create a Lyons 1897–1984 Nice) 1929 version of their choice. Maurice Tabard uses the double Gelatin Sliver Print exposure and combining two images into one. The use of 22.9 x 17.5 cm (9 x 6 7/8 in.) spotlights forms shadows allowing depth and creating a ‘dreamlike’ imagery. The light focuses on the main object/subject allowing the audience to draw their attention towards the center. The aim of the surrealist image was to suggest to viewers the people in their image are in their dreams and giving the audience an idea of what may be going on in the artists mind. This is an image of a woman who was transformed into a musical instrument. The surrealist methods and techniques were used on concept of femininity and juxtaposing subjects, in this case using the subject’s body shape and working around the body instead of manipulating the body. The image was shot in a darkroom where limited amount for light is being shown in certain areas, thus creating shadows and depth. The image represents how a female body is being portrayed. The message behind the image is women are being portrayed and used as an object as woman during Le Violon d'Ingres (Ingres's Violin) the time may not have the rights to voice out their Man Ray (American, 1890 - 1976) opinion. This image concluded surrealist ideas of Paris, France (Place created) 1924 ‘dreamlike’ imagery where the image has been created Gelatin silver print through ‘fantasies’ and the ‘unreal’ of portraying a 29.6 x 22.7 cm (11 5/8 x 8 15/16 in.) woman Surrealist John Stezaker is a photographer who was known to create images through cut and paste collage. Majority of his works are black and white as it creates an emotionless atmosphere. He often finds pictures from magazine and post cards to create imagery from juxtaposition, as it is known to be ‘readymade’. This image was created in 2006. The difference between the images created from Man Ray was the way the image was manipulated. Although they have similar stories behind his works (Relationships), Man Ray created his images using layers and over contrasting his images, whiles John Stezaker uses two images creating a collage using the cut and paste technique. Man Ray tends to focus on body image and how woman are being portrayed in every day society and John Marriage I Stezaker focuses on the portraits and emotions. John Stezaker John Stezaker works are simple and positioning his 2006 Collage works in different angles conveying ‘strangeness’ 23.5 x 28.5 cm as surrealist artists particularly influenced his works in the past. When being compared with Man Ray’s works they both have similar concepts and styles, both uses surrealist concept reacting to current events and conveying them through imagery and creating ‘unreal-like’ images. Dora Maar is another Surrealist photographer who would take pictures of things that surrealist would consider as ‘ugly’, ‘bad’ or ‘un-pure’ looking such as dead animals and women. Instead she would compose the image taking away feminine and beauty, yet in a way where the viewers would give sympathy and make the subject feel Innocent. This image is a photo of surrealist painter Leonor Fini photographed by Dora Maar. The image creates an Leonor Fini Dora Maar unpleasant atmosphere and the subject portraying Paris, France weakness and powerless. The image has been shot 1936 Photo with a high angle shot as if she is being look down a 500x453px pond, although it does differ from some surrealist images such as Maurice Tabard as the image does not contain multiple layers and image was not solarized. However Man Ray and Dora Maar have similar surrealist concepts as they both explore the idea of body imagery, emotions and body language. Her images seem to be inspired her dark ‘fantasies’ of how a woman is being portrayed. However Surrealist photography has a rather dark side, which are all based on the photographer’s dreams and imagination. Another technique, which was highly used during the surrealist era, was distortion, Hans Bellmer looked at female bodies and took the idea of using dolls as subjects, and completely dismantling the body into parts as well as, positioning them in ways that are highly disturbing and sexualized. The concepts behind his works were created through his vision of Nazi’s torturing young woman in numerous ways. The sculpture was created in 1935 and photographed around 1938. The image has a similar concept to Man Ray; in which is they both explore the idea of distortion and the transformation of a human body (Le Violon d'Ingres). His works are often portraying sexuality, the sculpture was created if as it was being hanged or tortured. Although the image was not clear, one of the surrealist techniques shown was providing an invitation for viewers to interpret sexually in their own thoughts of the object. This allows the audience to have their own ‘fantasied’ story creating numerous of ideas and message being conveyed the controversial image creates tension as it rebels against artistic rules (standard of beauty). Although software and applications today allows La Poupee [‘’The Doll’’) 1935 users to add any required effects to our image, (printed 1938 or earlier) Hand-colored vintage gelatin silver people may argue the creativity and technique print affixed to contemporary aspects of photography has been worn out, as each archival mount 16 3/8 × 16 1/2 in technique is highly/easily accessible. In comparison 41.6 × 41.9 cm to the past where photographers would take Ubu Gallery advantage of the subject, and build around it instead of airbrushing towards perfection, areas such as lighting up certain areas in order to create depth and shadowing and layering each image precisely are elements which make photography stand out from other medias are slowly being reduced as everyone has access to devices where a simple manipulation can be created within a short period of time.