Congratulations on the wicke by jay vroolner on Andre Breton and the politics of Surrealism (SO No.S5 May-June 2002).
It showed clearty the political intent of Breton in collaboration with Troesky, and with Diego Revera's name appended expressine as it does the necessity for artistic experiment and cultural socialist revolution and after.
It is true that Bretor came very close to Trotsky's politics in the a time when it was difficult 195us, rejecting stairsm, at movement. to do so. but we should not be totally uncritical of Breton and Surrealism. In one area in paracuar uney were less than radical.
Attracted to Surrealism by their liberatory ceology and in particular by thei critique of marriage and the bourgeos nuclear tamily. Breton (left) with Diego Ritera and Trotsky many women artists - and dominating personality. painters, sculptors and writ- and kept their distance Trom membership of the sTole Surrealism had rev.
Some, such as Meret Oppenheim and Leonora olutonary ideab, their Carrington, were younger views on women in general sues moreo lished artists; others also were not so revolutionary. younger than most Breton was homophobic. were part of the wider cir- sexual practices (attended de. but, like Leonor Fini, only by men) he con an impossibly egocentric Women were depicted as (woman/child), as passive,: erotic objects, and many women Surrealists, finding these representations find alternatives, retreated into mysticism (Carrington) or equating women with nature (Agar)
Few confronted their own, female sexuality in the way that Bellmer, with his 'Dolls", investigated his. male sexuality. Only Fini, who lived her Surrealism in practice, explored her sexuality in such an open way. showing women capable of all sorts of practices, active and passive, sadistic and monte oom nerve ings, illustrations for erotic novels and in some paint"The redscovery of the work of women Surrealists by feminist art historians over the last 20 years, has led to re-readings of Surrealist art revealing some of the shortcomings the movemend It was Trotsky, after all, who said in order te change the conditions of Ife, we must learn to see eyes.' This, the Surrealists signally failed to do: after all. Iberation without socialism, nor is there socialism with. out women's liberation!
Jane Kelly Southwark Socialism on the internet Socialist Outlook web site: www.labournet.org.uk/so International Socialist Group: www.3bh.org.uk/ISG
OUTLOOK monthly marxist As US threatens to strike Iraq and other countries review. No 56. Summer 2002. 50p