Enchanted Ground: André Breton, Modernism, and the Surrealist Appraisal of Fin-de-Siècle Painting par Gavin Parkinson

Abstract

Reviewed by: Enchanted Ground: André Breton, Modernism, and the Surrealist Appraisal of Fin-de-Siècle Painting par Gavin Parkinson Catherine Gaughan Parkinson, Gavin. Enchanted Ground: André Breton, Modernism, and the Surrealist Appraisal of Fin-de-Siècle Painting. Bloomsbury, 2021 ISBN 978-1-5013-7564-4. Pp. 352. Focusing primarily on the canonical figures of late nineteenth-century French painting as they appear within the discourse of Surrealism, this work highlights many recognized artists from Gauguin and Man Ray to Max Ernst, as well as lesser-known figures like Odilon Redon and Charles Filiger. It in turn offers new perspectives on Surrealism through the lens of art history, literary theory, and social and intellectual history. Well-researched and beautifully arranged, this volume serves as a poetic journey navigating the twists and turns of Surrealism, which have had a substantial impact on the way we understand modernist painting today. From magic art, folklore and occultism, realism and abstraction, among others, the book spans the gamut of Breton’s connection to the larger world of modernist art in all its guises. In line with this expansive scope, each chapter includes wide-ranging theoretical discussions, particularly “Painting as Propaganda and Prophecy: René Magritte and Pierre-Auguste Renoir” and “Between Dog and Wolf: Georges Seurat, Brassaï, and the City of Light.” The author also traces the resistance and disenchantment with Surrealism through art, poetry, and theory. The numerous illustrations—paintings, posters, sculptures, and photographs, including a stunning color spread—contribute to a deeper understanding of how the artwork of this period inspired and continues to inspire new ways to challenge depictions of the concrete world. This book is a unique opportunity to engage with contemporary scholarship as it weaves through the vast and complex works of those artists who challenged representations oftentimes overlooked in previous collections while investigating Breton’s attempt to restore himself as both a considerable writer on modern art and a critic of modernism. An original and thought-provoking conclusion, the Epilogue sheds light on the tenuous relationship between Antonin Artaud and Surrealism and is followed by a fascinating coda on André Breton, underlining the contributions of his writings, which have not been fully articulated up until this point. Rich in content and visual examples, Enchanted Ground is a stand-alone study of modernism but also a source for innumerable references in the field. It will appeal not only to French modern art history enthusiasts, but also to those who enjoy delving deeper into cultural studies and literary theory, with an appreciation for the many colorful characters who have helped shape the world as we experience it today. [End Page 233] Catherine Gaughan Ryerson University (ON, Canada) Copyright © 2022 American Association of Teachers of French