In Montparnasse
The Emergence of Surrealism in Paris, from Duchamp to Dali
Published on 21. June 2018
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-0-241-25559-9 (ISBN)
Description
'She vividly charts the birth of surrealism . . . a tale rich in absurdity and outlandish characters, from Cocteau and Max Ernst to Dali and Picasso' Sunday Times
In this entertaining and informative biography, Sue Roe illustrates how surrealism emerged in Paris amidst an artistic ambience of lively experimentation. Before surrealism made its startling impact, artists including Marcel Duchamp and Giorgio De Chirico had already begun to shift the focus of the art scene in Montparnasse. Beginning with Duchamp, Roe tells the story of the wonderfully eccentric and avant-garde Dada movement, the birth of Surrealist photography with Man Ray and his muse Kiki de Montparnasse, the love triangle between writer Paul Eluard, his wife Gala and the artist Max Ernst, until the arrival of Salvador Dali in 1929. In Montparnasse recounts the extraordinary, revolutionary work these artists undertook as much as the salons, cafe life, friendships, rows and love affairs that were their background.
'Highly colourful . . . they're all here, the big names of the time - behaving badly, and, at times, quite madly too' Observer
'Brings together some of the chief protagonists in one of the 20th century's most inventive art movements. A vivid read' Radio Times
In this entertaining and informative biography, Sue Roe illustrates how surrealism emerged in Paris amidst an artistic ambience of lively experimentation. Before surrealism made its startling impact, artists including Marcel Duchamp and Giorgio De Chirico had already begun to shift the focus of the art scene in Montparnasse. Beginning with Duchamp, Roe tells the story of the wonderfully eccentric and avant-garde Dada movement, the birth of Surrealist photography with Man Ray and his muse Kiki de Montparnasse, the love triangle between writer Paul Eluard, his wife Gala and the artist Max Ernst, until the arrival of Salvador Dali in 1929. In Montparnasse recounts the extraordinary, revolutionary work these artists undertook as much as the salons, cafe life, friendships, rows and love affairs that were their background.
'Highly colourful . . . they're all here, the big names of the time - behaving badly, and, at times, quite madly too' Observer
'Brings together some of the chief protagonists in one of the 20th century's most inventive art movements. A vivid read' Radio Times
Reviews / Votes
Highly colourful . . . they're all here, the big names of the time - behaving badly, and, at times, quite madly too * Rachel Cooke, Observer * Roe is a talented writer, fascinated by la vie Boheme . . . She can find phrases that perfectly capture the feeling of a neighbourhood * John Carey, Sunday Times * Brings together some of the chief protagonists in one of the 20th century's most inventive art movements. A vivid read * Radio Times * She vividly charts the birth of surrealism . . . a tale rich in absurdity and outlandish characters, from Cocteau and Max Ernst to Dali and Picasso * Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times * Sue Roe describes with plenty of colour how surrealism was born and developed in Montparnasse . . . Roe marshals [the figures behind dada and surrealism] with great finesse * The Times * Enjoyable, engaging, rollicking - the storytelling is lively * Spectator, on 'In Montmartre' * Admirable. What an eye for art Roe has. Brilliant * Guardian, on 'In Montmartre' * An elegant synthesis of complex material... it excels: Roe is a skilled and graceful writer. * The Telegraph on 'In Montmartre' * Lively and engaging... in her entertaining, ingeniously structured account Roe brings Montmartre's heyday back to life. * The Sunday Times on 'In Montmartre' * [Roe]skilfully weaves her descriptions of artworks into her romp through the artists' struggles and fractious relationships. * The Times on 'In Montmartre' * A colourful narrative describing the travails and triumphs of an equally colourful cast. * New Statesman on 'In Montmartre' * With evocative imagery Roe sketches out the intensely visual spectacle on which Montmartre's artistic community was able to draw * Financial Times on 'In Montmartre' *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Penguin Books Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 31 mm
Weight
573 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-241-25559-9 (9780241255599)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
06/2018
1st Edition
Penguin Books Ltd
€9.49
Available for download
Person
Sue Roe is the author of several books, including the bestselling crowd biographies In Montmartre and The Private Lives of the Impressionists, and a widely praised work on the artist Gwen John. She is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow. She lives in Brighton.