The traumatic surreal is the first major study to examine the ground-breaking role played by Germanophone women artists working in surrealist traditions in responding to the traumatic events and legacies of the Second World War. Analysing works in a variety of media by leading artists and writers, the book redefines the post-war trajectories of surrealism and recalibrates critical understandings of the movement's relations to historical trauma. Chapters address artworks, writings and compositions by the Swiss Meret Oppenheim, the German Unica Zurn, the Austrian Birgit Jurgenssen, the Luxembourg-Austrian Bady Minck and the Austrian Olga Neuwirth and her collaboration with fellow Austrian Nobel-prize winning novelist Elfriede Jelinek. Locating each artist in their historical context, the book traces the development of the traumatic surreal through the wartime and post-war period.

About the Author
Patricia Allmer is Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art History at the University of Edinburgh

Reviews

'...a welcome addition to recent scholarship on both the women of, and inspired by, Surrealism, and the role of trauma in contemporary art.' The Burlington Magazine

'...a groundbreaking book that offers new perspectives on female positions and lineages in the history of surrealism.' Woman's Art Journal

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Book Information
ISBN 9781526149794
Author Patricia Allmer
Format Hardback
Page Count 280
Imprint Manchester University Press
Publisher Manchester University Press
Weight(grams) 798g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 170mm * 22mm