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The Esoteric Secrets of Surrealism: Origins, Magic, and Secret Societies
A profound understanding of the surrealists' connections with alchemists and secret societies and the hermetic aspirations revealed in their works. Explains how surrealist paintings and poems employed mythology, gnostic principles, tarot, voodoo, alchemy, and other hermetic sciences to seek out unexplored regions of the mind and recover lost "psychic" and magical powers.
Not merely an artistic or literary movement as many believe, the surrealists rejected the labels of artist and author bestowed upon them by outsiders, accepting instead the titles of magician, alchemist, or — in the case of Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo — witch. Their paintings, poems, and other works were created to seek out unexplored regions of the mind and recover lost "psychic" and magical powers. They used creative expression as the vehicle to attain what André Breton called the "supreme point" — the point at which all opposites cease to be perceived as contradictions. This supreme point is found at the heart of all esoteric doctrines, including the Great Work of alchemy, and enables communication with higher states of being.
Drawing on an extensive range of writings by the surrealists and those in their circle of influence, Patrick Lepetit shows how the surrealists employed mythology, gnostic principles, tarot, voodoo, and alchemy not simply as reference points but as significant elements of their ongoing investigations into the fundamental nature of consciousness. He provides many specific examples of esoteric influence among the surrealists, such as how Picasso's famous Demoiselles d'Avignon was originally titled The Bath of the Philosophers, how painter Victor Brauner drew from his father's spiritualist vocation as well as the Kabbalah and tarot, and how doctor and surrealist author Pierre Mabille was a Freemason focused on finding initiatory paths where "it is possible to feel a new system connecting man with the universe."
Lepetit casts new light on the connection between key figures of the movement and the circle of adepts gathered around Fulcanelli. He also explores the relationship between surrealists and Freemasonry, Martinists, and the Elect Cohen as well as the Grail mythos and the Arthurian brotherhood.
Not merely an artistic or literary movement as many believe, the surrealists rejected the labels of artist and author bestowed upon them by outsiders, accepting instead the titles of magician, alchemist, or — in the case of Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo — witch. Their paintings, poems, and other works were created to seek out unexplored regions of the mind and recover lost "psychic" and magical powers. They used creative expression as the vehicle to attain what André Breton called the "supreme point" — the point at which all opposites cease to be perceived as contradictions. This supreme point is found at the heart of all esoteric doctrines, including the Great Work of alchemy, and enables communication with higher states of being.
Drawing on an extensive range of writings by the surrealists and those in their circle of influence, Patrick Lepetit shows how the surrealists employed mythology, gnostic principles, tarot, voodoo, and alchemy not simply as reference points but as significant elements of their ongoing investigations into the fundamental nature of consciousness. He provides many specific examples of esoteric influence among the surrealists, such as how Picasso's famous Demoiselles d'Avignon was originally titled The Bath of the Philosophers, how painter Victor Brauner drew from his father's spiritualist vocation as well as the Kabbalah and tarot, and how doctor and surrealist author Pierre Mabille was a Freemason focused on finding initiatory paths where "it is possible to feel a new system connecting man with the universe."
Lepetit casts new light on the connection between key figures of the movement and the circle of adepts gathered around Fulcanelli. He also explores the relationship between surrealists and Freemasonry, Martinists, and the Elect Cohen as well as the Grail mythos and the Arthurian brotherhood.
544 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 2, 2015
A fascinating premise, connecting the Surrealist Movement to Secret Societies, Hermeticism, and Alchemy, but in execution there were far too many, lengthy, quotes and very little exegesis [interpretation]. As a scholarly work the latter is exceptionally important and without it the work does not appear to have a purpose.
In this case, the reader is confronted with a dizzying array of quotes and not enough context to make the book, at a whopping 544 pages, worth the effort.
Again, excellent premise poorly executed...unless you enjoy poorly contextualized quotations.
Rating 2 out of 5 stars
In this case, the reader is confronted with a dizzying array of quotes and not enough context to make the book, at a whopping 544 pages, worth the effort.
Again, excellent premise poorly executed...unless you enjoy poorly contextualized quotations.
Rating 2 out of 5 stars
February 11, 2015
Had a good bibliography and some great citations...
August 31, 2023
read this book as research for a design project, very insightful
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews