André Breton

Life: 1896 – 1966 (1)

Country: France

Style(s): Dada; Surrealism

Works: The Mystery of the Fireplace (1947 - 48)

            The African Mask (1947-48)

            The Dance (1947-48)

            Surrealist Landscape (1950)

Quote: “It is living and ceasing to live that are imaginary solutions. Existence is elsewhere.” (5)

          You walk into André Breton’s house and are stunned by the works of art. They are unlike anything you have ever studied. They are not really Surrealism like Dali’s. There is something else to them. Something….other-worldly.

            “You like them?” asks Breton. You whirl around. You didn’t hear him walk into the parlor.

            “Well…uh…yeah,” you stammer. Breton chuckles, “I never really was an ‘artist’ per se. Dada is an anti-art movement. Our art shows….well, it shows us…how we feel. You get it? You should pick up a copy of Manifesto Surrealism. I wrote it in 1924 and in it I explained Surrealism as best as I could. (2) If you are trying to understand Surrealism, the book is your best bet. Anyway, I don’t mean to bother you with all that. Dali called ahead to tell me that you were coming. I am sorry, but I

            “Yes, yes I do believe that,” you say.

            “Well, then I have some friends you might like to talk to. When I was in the military around 1915, I worked in the neurological ward in Naples. While I was there I met a man named Jacques Vaché who later became one of the first Dada artists (6 & 7). He committed suicide in 1919, as many Dadaist artists have. But that shouldn’t be a problem for you.”

            You are confused. The man is dead. How can he possibly help you? Why wouldn’t it be a problem for you?  “What do you mean?” you query.

            “Don’t worry about it…just trust me.  If you want, go ask Vaché about Chucky...or, you could keep talking to me and we can try and figure out something else.”

            “What if I don’t want to talk to Vaché?”

            “Well, then there is always Tzara. I was in Paris after the war, 1919 I think it was, when Tzara came (6 & 7). He’s the man who founded Dada. What a guy. He changed everything. Absolutely everything. You should really talk to him.  If you’re still skeptical, give me a sec to try and think of another person.”