Andre Breton Quotes

A collection of quotes by Andre Breton.

André Breton was a French writer and poet, known for being the principal founder and central figure of the surrealist movement. He was born on February 19, 1896, in Tinchebray, France, and grew up in a bourgeois family. Breton demonstrated a deep interest in art from an early age, publishing his first poem at the age of 17.

During World War I, Breton served as a medical auxiliary in various psychiatric hospitals, an experience that greatly influenced his perception of the human mind and reality. In the 1920s, he became a prominent figure in the Dadaist movement but eventually broke away to form Surrealism in 1924 with the publication of the Surrealist Manifesto. This manifesto encapsulated Breton's belief in the power of the unconscious mind and sought to liberate human expression from the constraints of rationality and societal conventions.

As the leader of the surrealist movement, Breton promoted the exploration of dreams, automatic writing, and the irrational as means to evoke and express the subconscious. He organized surrealist exhibitions, published numerous essays, and collaborated with other artists and writers, including Salvador Dalí and René Magritte.

Breton's writings, including his acclaimed novel "Nadja" (1928), played a significant role in expanding the surrealist movement internationally and inspiring future generations of artists. Throughout his life, Breton remained a passionate advocate for avant-garde art and revolutionary thinking, continually seeking new ways to challenge established norms. He passed away on September 28, 1966, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century art and literature.