Surrealism and the Occult : Occultism and Western Esotericism in the Work and Movement of André Breton

This book offers a new perspective on a long-debated issue: the role of the occult in surrealism, in particular under the leadership of French writer André Breton. Based on thorough source analysis, this study details how our understanding of occultism and esotericism, as well as of their function in Bretonian surrealism, changed significantly over time from the early 1920s to the late 1950s. This book offers a new perspective on a long-debated issue: the role of the occult in surrealism, in particular under the leadership of French writer André Breton. Based on thorough source analysis, this study details how our understanding of occultism and esotericism, as well as of their function in Bretonian surrealism, changed significantly over time from the early 1920s to the late 1950s.-Dr Tessel M. Bauduin (1980) is a historian of art and culture. She holds a PhD in the Arts (2012) from the University of Amsterdam, and is currently affiliated with the Radboud University, Nijmegen, as a post-doctoral researcher. Her research interests include the historical avant-garde, especially Surrealism; Modernism and occulture; Modernist medievalism. Bron: Flaptekst, uitgeversinformatie This volume offers a fresh perspective upon a long-debated issue: the role of the occult in Surrealism, in particular under leadership of André Breton. Based on thorough source analysis, this study details how the understanding of occultism and esotericism, as well as their function in Bretonian Surrealism changed significantly over time, from the early 1920s to the late 1950s Contents Introduction: The Occultation of Surrealism 1. The Time of Slumbers: Psychic automatism and surrealist research 2. The Period of Reason: Mediums and seers 3. The ‘Golden Age’ of the omnipotent mind 4. Magic in exile 5. Arcanum 1947: Poetry, liberty, love Conclusion Notes List of plates Bibliography Index of names Surrealism and the Occult offers a fresh view of the debate whether Surrealism was involved with occultism and the esoteric or not, with special examination of the movement's leadership by its founder, André Breton.

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