Surrealism: Desire Unbound

Desire was one of the defining themes of surrealism. Influenced by the Freudian notion that sexual instincts were fundamental to the development of the psyche, the surrealists saw desire as a path to self-knowledge. Published to accompany the exhibition of international surrealism held at Tate Modern, summer 2001, this title features essays that are intended to provide a wide-ranging exploration of the theme of surrealism and desire. Key works by artists such as Duchamp, Magritte, Ernst, Dali, de Chirico, Giocometti, Bellmer, Claude Cahun, and Dorothea Tanning are illustrated and discussed, as well as surrealist films and books, and photographs by Man Ray, Brassai and others.