Lecture on Female Surrealists and Their Influence on the Movement

Overview

• Focus on the contribution of women artists to the Surrealism movement.
• Discusses the challenges faced by women due to the male-dominated environment.
• Exhibition "Fantastic Women" at Schön Kunsthalle in Frankfurt highlights these contributions.

Historical Context

• André Breton's Influence:
  • Co-founder of Surrealism, made controversial remarks about women.
  • Women had to enter Breton's circle primarily as companions or models.
• Role of Women in Surrealism:
  • Initially limited participation in the 1920s.
  • More significant involvement by the 1930s, becoming international.
  • Women artists explored themes like identity, female body, and sexuality from their perspective.

Key Female Artists

• Notable Figures:
  • Leonor Feeney, Leonora Carrington, Frida Kahlo, Dorothea Tanning, Lee Miller.
  • Contributed to internationalizing Surrealism, coming from diverse backgrounds.

Artistic Influence and Challenges

• Women were often younger and viewed as objects of desire by male counterparts.
• Surrealism initially had an ethos of equal love but was not effectively practiced.
• Women started contributing to exhibitions, publications, and official documents.

Exhibition and Recognition

• Retrospectives and exhibitions like the one at Frankfurt and Sotheby's are increasing recognition of female surrealists.
• Julian Dawes notes that many female surrealists remain unknown even to enthusiasts.

Academic Perspectives

• Kate Conley:
  • Women became influential as the movement progressed.
  • The movement's revolutionary nature did provide unique opportunities for women.
• Boyd Haycock's View:
  • Breton sought to maintain control, including over women in the movement.

Shifting Perspectives and Future

• Increasing interest and scholarship on female surrealists.
• Scholars like Whitney Chadwick, Marianne Cause, and Susan Suleiman contributed to this shift.
• Women artists provided counter-narratives to the idealized female muse.
• Autobiographies and self-portraits contributed by women are increasingly recognized and altering historical understanding.