This site features gestural and abstract paintings with a strong emphasis on abstract surrealism. The works are based on the principles of Chinese art, particularly in terms of structure and brushwork. Thematically, they carry connotations to the classical surrealists, blending traditional techniques with surrealist elements.
Random Selection of Abstract Surrealism Works by Friedrich Zettl
Earlier Abstract Surrealism Works
About Abstract and Gestural Surrealism
Gestural Surrealism is a style of painting that combines the free sweeping gestures of gestural painting with the dreamlike imagery of Surrealism. The term “gestural” refers to the application of paint in free sweeping gestures with a brush, while “Surrealism” is based on the belief in the superior reality of certain forms of previously neglected associations, in the omnipotence of dream, in the disinterested play of thought 12.
The term “gestural” originally came into use to describe the paintings of the abstract expressionist artists Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell, Hans Hofmann, and others (also referred to as action painters). In Pollock’s case, the brush might be a dried one, or a stick, dipped in the paint and trailed over the canvas. He also poured directly from the can. The idea was that the artist would physically act out his inner impulses and that something of his emotion or state of mind would be read by the viewer in the resulting paint marks.
Surrealism as Cultural Movement
Surrealism, on the other hand, is a cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists depicted unnerving, illogical scenes and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself. The movement is heavily based by psychoanalysis, which claims a more direct access to the subconscious mind.
Gestural Surrealism combines these two styles to create a unique form of art that is both expressive and dreamlike. The free-sweeping gestures of gestural painting create a sense of movement and energy. On the other hand, the dreamlike imagery of Surrealism creates a sense of mystery and intrigue. Sunsiquently the resulting paintings are often abstract and open to interpretation, allowing the viewer to bring their own meaning to the work.
Explore Friedrich Zettl’s Art and Ideas→
Art Portfolio → Asian Art Essays → Journal → Articles Archive