THE AESTHETIC THEORIES OF FRENCH ARTISTSFROM REALISM TO
SURREALISMBYCHARLES EDWARD GAUSSIncluding the ex!nent" !#
$e%li"&' i&$e""i!ni"&' ne!i&$e""i!ni"&'
cu(i"&' "u$$e%li"&' %nd "uch %$ti"t" %" Ren!i$' Ce)%nne'
G%uguin' %nd M%ti""e' the %uth!$ $e"ent" the %e"thetic the!$ie" !#
the $inci%l F$ench %$ti"t" "ince *+,,-.The (!!/ i" excellentl0
!$g%ni)ed %nd c%$e#ull0 indexed- It i" #illed 1ith 1ell2t$%n"l%ted
3u!t%ti!n" #$!& the &!"t i&!$t%nt 1$iting" !# le%ding
%$ti"t" !# the e$i!d- It h%" % l%$ge %nd excellent (i(li!g$%h0 !#
ite&" indi"en"%(le #!$ %n0!ne 1h! 1i"he" t! unde$"t%nd l%te
nineteenth %nd t1entieth centu$0 de4el!&ent" in %$t- F!$ the"e
$e%"!n"' i# #!$ n! !the$"' the (!!/ 1ill (e !# 4%lue t! e4e$0!ne
inte$e"ted in e"thetic" %" $!!unded (0 %$ti"t"/1College Art
JournalB!!/" !n %$t "uch %" 5$!#e""!$ G%u""6" %$e i&!$t%nt
(ec%u"e the0 ($e%/ d!1n the (%$$ie$" 1hich "eci%li)%ti!n h%" (uilt
u (et1een the "cience"/1Times Literary SupplementThe d!u(le %i&
!# thi" (!!/ "ee&" % #%"cin%ting !ne7 t! "tud0 the hi"t!$0 !#
ide%" c!nce$ning %$t #$!& *+,, t! the $e"ent in the 1$iting !#
F$ench %$ti"t"' %nd t! indic%te $!!t" !$ %$%llel" #!$ the"e ide%"
in the c!nte&!$%$0 hil!"!hie"869 Magazine of ArtCHARLES EDWARD
GAUSS 1%" Elt!n 5$!#e""!$ !# 5hil!"!h0 %t Ge!$ge W%"hingt!n
Uni4e$"it0 %nd %""i"t%nt t! the $e"ident %t N!4% Uni4e$"it0 !#
Ad4%nced Techn!l!g:6' F!$t L%ude$d%le' Fl!$id%- He i" n!1
$eti$ed-Originally published, 1949T! MY 5ARENTS AND MY WIFEwho
encouraged and aided my education and were patient through the long
processThi" "tud0 i" % &!de"t %tte&t t! t$%ce "!&e !#
the c!nnecti!n" (et1een %$t %nd !the$($%nche" !# hu&%n ende%4!$
%nd cultu$e in the hi"t!$0 !# ide%"- It" the"i" i" th%t !ne "h!uld
ex%&ine the hi"t!$0 !# ide%" %" it i" &%ni#e"ted in %$t-I
h%4e included in &0 di"cu""i!n !nl0 th!"e %$ti"t" %nd th!"e
1$iting" 1hich I dee&ed"u##icient t! t$%ce the c!u$"e I 1i"hed
t! !utline- I# the "tud0 i" !# %n0 4%lue !the$" (ette$ e3uied th%n
I &%0 #ill in the !utline"-In $ende$ing the F$ench 3u!t%ti!n"
in Engli"h I h%4e &%de &0 !1n t$%n"l%ti!n"' th!ugh !#ten
(ette$ !ne" %$e %4%il%(le' in !$de$ th%t %n0 $e"!n"i(ilit0 #!$
&i"unde$"t%nding &%0 (e l%id !nl0 t! &e-I 1i"h
%$ticul%$l0 t! th%n/ D$- Ge!$ge B!%" %nd D$- Li!nell! ;entu$i #!$
thei$ /ind %id %nd inte$e"t in the $e"ent unde$t%/ing- I %&
%l"! g$%te#ul t! the& %nd t! D$- 5ed$! S%lin%" %nd Mi"" Ett%
C!ne #!$ h%4ing &%de %4%il%(le t! &e &%te$i%l" #$!&
thei$ li($%$ie" 1hich it 1!uld h%4e (een !the$1i"e di##icult !$
i&!""i(le t! !(t%in-Ac/n!1ledg&ent i" &%de t! The
Journal of Aesthetics #!$ g$%nting &e e$&i""i!n t!
inc!$!$%te he$e &%te$i%l" u(li"hed in th%t M- Hen$i M%ti""e'
1h!"e %$ticle' ? N!te" d6un eint$e @ %e%$ed in the #rande shado#s@
&ollo#ing the la#s o& $ontrast, diinution, and irradiation"
The &rae is in harony o((osed to that o& the tones, $olors,
and lines o& the (i$ture"2Th!ugh Seu$%t c%ll" % 1!$/ !# %$t %
"0nthe"i"' it "ee&" %%$ent #$!& 1h%t he h%" 1$itten th%t it
i" % "u&- T! unde$"t%nd it !ne i"!l%te" the ele&ent" !#
1hich it i" c!&!"ed' &uch %" % che&i"t 1!uld "et t!
1!$/- F!$ the 1!$/ !# %$t the"e ele&ent" %$e c!nc$ete'
4i"i(leexi"tent"' c!l!$' line"' light %nd "h%de- One d!e" n!t $%te
%(!ut (e%ut0 !$ "u(li&it0 %" the ide%li"t" d!' #!$ the"e %$e
&et%h0"ic%l e""ence" 1hich the "cienti#ic %e"thetici%n c%nn!t
#ind-T%/e the ele&ent" 1hich %n%l0"i" 0ield"' "tud0 the&'
le%$n h!1 t! &%niul%te the& in i"!l%ti!n %nd in
c!&(in%ti!n %nd 0!u h%4e the #!$&ul% #!$ the c$e%ti!n !# %
1!$/ !# %$t- I# C!u$(et h%d %d!ted the !int !# 4ie1 !#
!"iti4i"&' Seu$%t h%" %d!ted it" ð!d-5%ul Sign%c in hi"
(!!/' 19ugene 1elacroi. au neo5 impressionnisme6 de#ine" the
ne!2i&$e""i!ni"t %inte$" %" ? th!"e 1h! h%4e $e4i4ed %nd "ince
*++I de4el!ed the techni3ue c%lled di4i"i!ni"& in e&l!0ing
the !tic &ixtu$e !# t!ne" %nd c!l!$" %" % &%nne$ !#
ex$e""i!n-@ *E The"e %inte$" h%4e (een d$%1n t! thi" &%nne$ !#
%inting (ec%u"e th$!ughit the0 c%n !(t%in g$e%te$ lu&in!"it0
th%n (0 %n0 !the$ &e%n"- On thi" "u!"iti!n the (!!/ i"%n
ex!"iti!n !# %inting %" % "cienti#ic techni3ue- Sign%c i" c!nce$ned
t! "h!1 th%t the ð!d !# the ne!2i&$e""i!ni"t" i" %
$e%li)%ti!n !# the the!$ie" !# Del%c$!ix %nd the
i&$e""i!ni"t"-The ne!2i&$e""i!ni"t" d! n!t %int in d!t"'
the0 " d! n!t M !intille N (ut di4ide'@ e&l!0ing the techni3ue
!# little d%u(" !# c!l!$ (ec%u"e !# the nece""it0 !# d!ing "!
#$!& "cienti#ic $incile"- Di4i"i!ni"& %""u$e" the&
lu&in!u"' c!l!$#ul' h%$&!ni!u" e##ect" th$!ugh* The o(ti$
i'ture o& (igents """"B The se(aration o& diverse eleents,
$olor, &or, light, and their rea$tions """"H The e)uili!riu
o& these eleents and their (ro(ortion >a$$ording to the la#s
o& $ontrast, diinution, and irradiation@"F The $hoi$e o&
tou$h (ro(ortional to the diensions o& the (i$ture"11Sign%c
d!e" n!t li/e the 1!$d !intilli"&- It d!e" n!t h%4e the
!4e$t!ne !# c!$$ect &e%ning- Di4i"i!ni"&' he thin/"' h%"'
&e%ning ? % c!&lex "0"te& !# h%$&!n0' %n %e"thetic
&!$e th%n % techni3ue'@ #!$ ? the (%"i" !# di4i"i!n i"
c!nt$%"t' %nd i" n!t c!nt$%"t %$t it"el#L @ *BWith the th$ill !#
the %$ti"t 1h! #ind" le%"u$e in hi" %$ti"t$0 he tell" u" in !ne
(e%uti#ul %""%ge th%t the %inte$ t%/e" h0d$!gen %nd !x0gen %$e n!t
1et' %nd the !ne i" nece""%$0' the !the$ %n %id t! c!&(u"ti!n-
The "itu%ti!n i" "i&il%$ 1hen 1e tu$n t!
&e%ning2"itu%ti!n"- A "entence i" the "u& !# the 1!$d" th%t
&%/e it u' h0"ic%ll0 "e%/ing' (ut the &e%ning !# the
"entence i" n!t the "u& !# the &e%ning !# e%ch 1!$d- The
"entence h%" it" !1n &e%ning- And #$e3uentl0' t!!' the
&e%ning !# % c!ntext 1ill ch%nge !$ %lte$ the &e%ning" !#
1!$d" 1ithin it- A 1!$/ !# %$t %l"! 1ith it" ele&ent" i" in %n
%n%l!g!u" "itu%ti!n 1ith $e#e$ence t! e&!ti!n%l $e"!n"e"- But
in the nineteenth centu$0 %n%l0"i" 1%" the $ec!gni)ed ð!d !#
"cience' %nd the ð!d !# "cience h%d (!$ne #$uit 1he$e4e$ it
h%d (een %lied- It 1%" $e%"!n%(le t! exect it 1!uld d! "! #!$
inten"i4e 3u%litie" %" 1ell' %nd the ne1 %e"thetic %n%l0"i" 1%"
diligentl0 u$"ued (0 Seu$%t %nd th!"e 1h! #!ll!1ed the
ne!2i&$e""i!ni"t (elie#"-With the ne!2i&$e""i!ni"t"
%e"thetic" i" "ul%nted (0 the "cience !# %$t- Ae"thetic" h%d
%$!%ched %$t th$!ugh "ecul%ti!n !n the n%tu$e !# the (e%uti#ul- The
"cience !# %$t ex%&ine" the !(1:71512B,@, Aeri$an (hysi$ist,
ade e'tensive studies on the )uantitative analysis o& $olor
$ontrasts" His (rin$i(al #or% is .odern Chro#atics, 1::1"K Given in
Eenturi, op cit, vol" 00, (" ,="+ Ro!ert de la Eilleherve in the
'avre81clair, Se(t" ,3, 12B=6 in Eenturi, op cit, vol" 0, (" 1B1"*
R" Rey, $a renaissance du senti#ent classi3ue, re(rodu$tion
&a$ing ((" 17,51776 also in G" Co)uiot, "es peintres #audits,
((" 17,517= #ith inor e'$e(tions" C&" Rey, op cit, L"
Cousturier, Seurat, and ." Re#ald, Seurat, &or SeuratCs
ani&esto"*E /" Signa$, op cit, (" 1"***bid, ((" =53"*B *bid, ("
?2"1: *bid, (" :,"1= *bid, (" :?"1< *bid, (" ::"*I *bid, (("
1B< and 1B?"*K *bid, ((" :75:="*+ 2ide, e" g", N" Hevner, 8
E'(eriental Studies o& the A&&e$tive Ealue o&
Colors and Lines,; 4ournal of Applied Psychology, Aug" 1273, (("
7:3572:"*A Iet in the theory o& HelholtL nature does so (resent
itsel& to us" He distinguishes three %inds o& nerve
&i!res, ea$h res(onding to one o& the (ure $olors, red,
green, and violet" The sensation o& a $olor, there&ore,
de(ends u(on the $hanges o$$asioned in these &i!res !y the
e'ternal stiulus"BE " C !ich, Seurat and the 1volution of < $a
-rande 4atte,= p 10CHA/TER F-URTHE GREAT INDE5ENDENTS7 RENOIR AND
CERANNEAINTING 1%" n!t t! #!ll!1 the 1%0" !# "cienti#ic $e%li"&
1ith!ut % 4ig!$!u" deni%l #$!& "!&e %$ti"t"- Thi" deni%l
c!uld t%/e t1! #!$&"- In the #i$"t l%ce' !ne c!uld $eudi%te %n0
c!nnecti!n (et1een "cience %nd %$t %nd di"$eg%$d the $!(le& !#
the $el%ti!n !# the 1!$/ !# %$t t! the n%tu$%l !( In"i$ed (0 the
c$%#t" &!4e&ent!# Willi%& M!$$i" in Engl%nd 1h!
$e4!lted %g%in"t the !!$ t%"te !# hi" d%0' the %$t" !# de"ign
exe$ienced % &in!$ $en%i""%nce- The$e 1%" % $e4i4ed inte$e"t in
g!!d c$%#t"&%n"hi th%t i" (e%$ing %d&i$%(le #$uit t!d%0-
G!ing t! n%tu$e #!$ thei$ &!del" the %$ti"t" !# 0art nou!eau
e&l!0ed g$%ce#ul cu$4e"' "1i$ling "i$%l"' l%nt %nd %ni&%l
#!$&" 1ith "u!"ed i&%gin%ti4e #$eed!& in #u$nitu$e'
&et%l1!$/' C Thi" $e#%ce h%" (een c%lled ? Ren!i$6"
te"t%&ent @ 1hich %##i$&" ? !n e%ch %ge hi" #%ith in the
cl%""ic t$%diti!n'@ I % "t%te&ent th%t i" ce$t%inl0
ex%gge$%ti!n-We %$e li%(le t! #!$get the %"t' Ren!i$ tell" u"'
(ec%u"e "! &%n0 $ecent &%$4el!u" e4ent" %nd di"c!4e$ie"
tu$n !u$ e0e" #$!& 1h%t h%ened $i!$ t! the&- But % gl%nce
(%c/ %t thi" %"t i" n!t % u"ele"" $!cedu$e #!$ u" t!d%0' %nd in %
&%n li/e Cennini 1e %$e %&l0 $e1%$ded- Be"ide" (eing %
technic%l &%nu%l' the t$e%ti"e !# Cennini i" % hi"t!$0 #$!&
1hich 1e c%n le%$n &uch %(!ut %$t- The %$ti"tic g$e%tne"" !# %
n%ti!n i" n!t &e%"u$ed (0 the #e1 1!$/" !# % &%n !# geniu"
(ut (0 %ll the 1!$/" !# %ll it" %$ti"t"- It 1%" t! %ll %$ti"t" !#
hi" ti&e th%t Cennini "!/e' hi" u$!"e t! &%/e g!!d
%$ti"%n"-KRen!i$ $eite$%te" the $!!"iti!n !# the $e%li"t"7 ? One
1!uld n!t /n!1 h!1 t! li4e !ut"ide !# hi" ti&e- - - +The
ti&e" !# Cennini %nd !u$ !1n' Ren!i$ "%0"' di##e$ in t1!
i&!$t%nt $e"ect" 1hich &%/e !u$ !1n %$ti"tic%ll0 in#e$i!$-
5%inte$" c!uld then eng%ge in c!llecti4i"tic %cti4itie"' th%t i"'
"e4e$%l &ight dec!$%te !ne chu$ch %nd 0et %&!ng thei$
indi4idu%l 1!$/" the$e 1!uld (e % unit0 #!$ ? the %inte$" 1!uld
!""e"" the "%&e metierA 5%inte$" then le%$nedthei$ t$%de
th$!ugh %$entice"hi' th$!ugh initi%ti!n little (0 little int! the
%ctu%l $%ctice !# thei$ %$t- Yet "uch %$entice"hi did n!t /ill the
!$igin%lit0 !# th!"e %inte$"7 R%h%el 1%" n!le"" hi&"el# #!$
(eing the uil !# 5e$ugin!- Thi" "i$it !# the atelier i" g!ne
#$!& %$t t!d%0- The "ec!nd #%ct!$ 1hich exl%in" the g$e%t 4%lue
!# %"t %$t i" $eligi!u" "enti&ent' th%t h%$&!ni)ing %gent
1hich &!4ed %&!ng %ll &en %nd the %ge in 1hich the0
li4ed- Th!ugh $eligi!u" "enti&ent h%" "te%dil0 g$!1n 1e%/e$ the
$ule" e"t%(li"hed unde$ it" in#luence h%4e /et %$t !n % high l%ne
1he$e C%th!lic cultu$e h%" $e4%iled- E4en in the ti&e !# the
g$e%te"t!1e$ !# the Chu$ch the %$ti"t" 1e$e $el%ti4el0 #$ee- ?
F%ith 1%" the $egul%t!$ !# thei$ #%nt%"0 1hich c!uld n!u$i"h it"el#
1ith!ut #e%$ #$!& $!#%ne "!u$ce"-@ *E T!d%0 1e %$e n!t in th%t
h%0 "itu%ti!n7Gods are no longer #anted, and gods are ne$essary to
our iagination" 0t ust !e $on&essed, odern rationalis, i&
it is a!le to satis&y the learned, is a anner o& thin%ing
in$o(ati!le #ith any $on$e(tion o& art"11Be"ide the"e t1!
#%ct!$" the$e i" % "ec!nd%$0 c%u"e #!$ the dec%dence !# %$t t!d%0-
F!$&e$l0 !ne 1!$/e$ 1!uld c%$$0 !ne !( intuiti!n gi4e"
/n!1ledge !# the !(E - Santayana, The Sense of DeautyCHA/TER
S0QEARLI CU*0S9ANOTHER 4%$i%nt !# $e%li"t %e"thetic" 1%" !""i(le'
%nd th%t 1%" t! decl%$e th%t the %$ti"t6" (u"ine"" i" t! %int the
$e%l !( it i" %n !$g%ni"&-@A O$ the $el%ti!n"hi &%0 (e th%t
(et1een the ict!$i%l 1!$ld %nd the 4i"u%l 1!$ld !# the &!del-
B!th &%0 (e % dec!$%ti4e %tte$n' !$ (!th &%0 h%4e deee$
%"ect"7-il (ainting today (erits the e'(ression o& notions
Jhereto&oreK deeed ine'(ressi!le, those o& de(th, density,
and duration, and it in$ites us to re(resent a$$ording to a $o(le'
rhyth and in a restri$ted s(a$e a verita!le &usion o&
o!4e$ts"1BN!n2dec!$%ti4e %$t ex$e""e" the e$&%nence !# !( The
1!$d 1%" l%te$ %d!ted (0 And$e B$et!n t! de"c$i(e the %ttitude !#
d$e%& th!ught %nd "0chic %ut!&%ti"& th%t 1%" eng%ging
hi" %ttenti!n- It" &!the$ 1%" d%d%' #$!& 1h!"e (!d0 it 1%"
(!$n-D%d% &%de it" de(ut du$ing the Fi$"t W!$ld W%$ in *A*I %t
the C%(%$et ;!lt%i$e in Ru$ich' %nd it" nihili"tic %ttitude 3uic/l0
"$e%d %&!ng the di"illu"i!ned %$ti"t" !# Eu$!e- It 1%" "!
n%&ed' %" !ne "t!$0 g!e"' (ec%u"e dada 1%" the #i$"t 1!$d 1hich
&et the e0e !# T$i"t%n T)%$% 1hen he in"e$ted % %e$/ni#e in %
dicti!n%$0 %t $%nd!& %nd !ened the (!!/ t!th%t l%ce- I# it"
%dhe$ent" e4e$ h%d %n0 illu"i!n" %(!ut %$t the0 %(%nd!ned the&
in d%d%' #!$ d%d% 1%" the di"l%0 !# n!n"en"e #!$ it" !1n
"%/e-M%ni#e"t!e" 1e$e $e%d (0 the "c!$e t! d%&n %$t %nd th!ught
%nd &%ni#e"t!e" %nd d%d%it"el#70 #rite a ani&esto and 0
donCt #ant anything" Iet 0 say $ertain things, and 0 a !y (rin$i(le
against ani&estoes as 0 a also against (rin$i(les" """ 0 #rite
this ani&estoto sho# that one $an ta%e o((osite a$tions at the
sae tie in one $ool !reath" 0 a against a$tion, in &avor o&
$ontinual $ontradi$tion and &or a&&iration also" 0 a
neither &or nor against and 0 do not e'(lain &or 0 hate
good sense"1Such 1%" the tu$n !# &ind !ut !# 1hich
"u$$e%li"& c%&e-Su$$e%li"& 1%" #!$&ul%ted %nd gi4en
% $!g$%& (0 And$e B$et!n' !ne !# the 5%$i" d%d%i"t"- A
&edic%l "tudent %" 1ell %" % !et' he $!!"ed t! in4e"tig%te the
!""i(ilitie" !##e$ed (0 lite$%$0 %cti4it0 #$eed #$!& $%ti!n%l
c!nt$!l %" % ð!d !# "0ch!%n%l0"i"- In hi" Manifeste du
surrealisme !# *ABF' he #i$"t %tte&t" % de#initi!n' de"c$i(e"
it' %nd indic%te" it" (%c/g$!und- Th!ugh n!t the 1!$/ !# % %inte$
thi" &%ni#e"t! &u"t (e c!n"ide$ed t! unde$"t%nd the !int !#
4ie1 !# "u$$e%li"&' 1hich i" &!$e th%n % the!$0 !#
%$t-B$et!n #i$"t de"c$i(e" the tu$n !# th!ught di"tincti4e !#
"u$$e%li"& in c!nt$%"t t! the c!n4enti!n%l' $e%li"t %ttitude-
Thi" %ttitude $e#e$" t! %n %("!lute $%ti!n%li"& 1hich h%" the
#ixed li&it" !# di"cu$"i4e $e%"!n' i" %l1%0" in %g$ee&ent
1ith c!&&!n "en"e' %nd c!n#ine" it"el# t! the t%ut!l!gic%l
!""i(ilitie" !# l!gic7We still live under the reign o& logi$" "
" " *ut no#adays logi$al (ro$esses are a((lied only to resolving
(ro!les o& se$ondary interest" JTrueK logi$al ends es$a(e us,
ho#ever" " " " Under $olor o& $iviliLation, under (rete't
o& (rogress all that rightly or #rongly $an !e $harged to
su(erstition or &an$y has !een !anned &ro the ind, all
anner o& sear$hing &or truth #hi$h does not $on&or to
usage has !een (ros$ri!ed",On the !the$ h%nd i" the &%te$i%li"t
%ttitude C#!$ "! he c%ll" itD 1hich !en" u the d!&%in !# the
i&%gin%ti!n %nd "h!1" the t$ue "0chic li#e hidden (ene%th
$%ti!n%li)%ti!n7The iagination is (erha(s on the (oint o&
a$)uiring its rights" 0& the de(ths o& our souls $on$eal
strange &or$es $a(a!le o& augenting those on the
sur&a$e or o& struggling vi$toriously against the it is to
our !est interests to e'(loit the" " " "7The i&%gin%ti!n i"
identi#ied 1ith % "u(c!n"ci!u"ne"" th%t i" &%de %%$ent t! u"
th$!ugh d$e%&"- B$et!n %c/n!1ledge" the de(t !# the "u$$e%li"t
t! F$eud- B0 %##i$&ing the unc!n"ci!u" "u$$e%li"& (egin" t!
&!4e %1%0 #$!& d%d% %nd u$e neg%ti!n' t! e$ect %
!"iti4e"t$uctu$e- Acceting the %uth!$it0 !# F$eud th%t the
"u(c!n"ci!u" i" &!"t e%"il0 %$ehended in the d$e%& "t%te
1hich ? i" c!ntinu!u" %nd c%$$ie" t$%ce !# !$g%ni)%ti!n @ 1he$e%"'
the 1%/ing "t%te i" !nl0 ? % hen!&en!n !# inte$#e$ence @F
!(e0ing unc!n"ci!u" "ugge"ti!n"' the "u$$e%li"t ex%&ine" thi"
d$e%& "t%te 1ith % ne1 intent7I !elieve in the &uture
resolution o& these t#o states #hi$h in a((earan$e are so
$ontradi$tory, that o& the drea and that o& reality, into a
%ind o& a!solute reality, a surreality, i& one ay $all it
su$h"3B0 di%lectic the t1! c!nt$%dict!$0 "t%te"' the d$e%& %nd
$e%lit0' %$e %("!$(ed (0 % deee$ $e%l&- Thi" i" the hil!"!hic
!"iti!n !# "u$$e%li"&- The thing" !# the !ute$ 1!$ld' th!ugh
$e%l in the "en"e th%t the0 h%4e thei$ !1n indeendent exi"tence'
l!"e thi" $e%lit0 in !u$ th!ught %nd ente$ int! ne1 $el%ti!n"hi"
1hich %$e "0chic%l' n!t h0"ic%l- T! the "u$$e%li"t FF % t!&%t!
i" %l"! % child6" (%ll!!n @ %nd in thi" $el%ti!n"hi the 1!$d li@e
i" ? "u$e""ed-@ I Ce$t%inl0 in "uch % $!g$%& !u$ "u"ici!n" !#
the &%$4el!u" %$e ut in di"$eute %nd $e%"!n i" surclasse>We
%"/ %t thi" !int' e$h%"' #!$ % de"c$iti!n !# thi" "u$$e%lit0- But
thi" "h!1" 1e &i"unde$"t%nd- The "u$$e%l i" the l%"t d%$/
c!ntinent !# the &ind> it exi"t" (ut 1e c%nn!t 0et de"c$i(e
it #!$ it h%" ne4e$ (een exl!$ed %nd it" (!$de$" h%4e (%$el0 (een
t!uched %t ti&e"- Iti" he$e "u$$e%li"t %$ti"tic techni3ue"
ente$' #!$ the0 %$e the ð!d" (0 1hich the !et %nd the %inte$
c%n exl!$e the unc!n"ci!u" %" d!e" the "0ch!l!gi"t- Su$$e%li"&'
the hil!"!hic !"iti!n' !"it" the "u$$e%l> "u$$e%li"&' the
ð!d' hel" t! de"c$i(e it- The du%lit0 i" %%$ent in B$et!n6"
de#initi!n"7SURREAL0S9, N" " /ure (sy$hi$ autoatis !y #hi$h it is
(ro(osed to e'(ress, either ver!ally, in #riting, or !y any other
eans, the real &un$tioning o& thought" A di$tation o&
thin%ing, in the a!sen$e o& all $ontrol e'er$ised !y reason and
outside o& all aestheti$ or oral (reo$$u(ations"ENCICL" /hilos"
Surrealis rests on the !elie& in the su(erior reality o&
$ertain &ors o& asso$iation negle$ted !e&ore its tie,
in the oni(oten$e o& dreas, in the distinterested (lay o&
thought" 0t tends to ruin the de&initiveness o& all the
other (sy$hi$ e$haniss and to su!stitute itsel& &or the in
resolving the (rin$i(al (ro!les o& li&e"?B$et!n de"c$i(e"
the #i$"t "u$$e%li"t ð!d 1he$e(0 !u$ %cti4it0 i" #$eed
#$!& $%ti!n%lc!nt$!l' "0chic %ut!&%ti"&- Thi" i" the
%tte&t t! $ec!$d the "t$e%& !# uninhi(ited 4e$(%l
i&%ge$0 #!$ !ne"el# %" % "0ch!%n%l0"t 1!uld th%t !# % %tient-
In %" %""i4e % "t%te %" !""i(le !ne 1$ite" d!1n $%idl0 hi" #l!1 !#
th!ught- O$ !ne &%0 d$%1 %t $%nd!& in % /ind !#
d!!dling-The #i$"t &%ni#e"t! cl%$i#ie" the ide!l!gic%l (%"i" !#
"u$$e%li"& %nd de"c$i(e" !ne !""i(le ð!d #!$ it-In the
Second manifeste du surrealisme !# *AHE' B$et!n decl%$e" th%t it i"
the u$!"e !# "u$$e%li"& t! $!4!/e % ? c$i"i" !# c!n"ci!u"ne"" @
(0 ex!"ing the #%l"ene"" !# the !ld %ntin!&ie" 1hich h%4e "!
l!ng $e4ented &%n/ind #$!& #inding the c!&&!n !int
!# $e#e$ence-+ The ex!"u$e c%n (e"t (e &%de th$!ugh % "tud0 !#
the $!(le& !# hu&%n ex$e""i!n #!$7No one, in e'(ressing
hisel&, does !etter than to ad4ust hisel& to the
(ossi!ilityo& the very o!s$ure re$on$iliation o& #hat he
%ne# he had to say on a su!4e$t #ith that he didnCt %no# he had to
say !ut has said"2The t1!2&!"t 4%lu%(le &e%n" !# ex$e""i!n
%$e d$e%& %cc!unt" %nd %ut!&%tic text" C1hethe$ 1$itten'
%inted' !$ d$%1n &%/e" n! di##e$ence %" thei$ %ut!&%ticit0
i" e4ident in %n0 !neD- The0 %$e 4%lu%(le (ec%u"e the0 %$e the
&e%n" t! 1hich !ne &%0 tu$n 1hen the !(