new surrealism concepts

examples of surrealist artwork

Surrealism is an important topic in the work of Friedrich Zettl since the early days. At the very beginning, it was collages in the sense of the early French surrealists. This was followed by a series of oil paintings that dealt with surrealism.

print after a surreal collage, 1974 by friedrich zettl
Dante and Michelangelo walking down my lane. Artwork by friedrich zettl. Tempera on wood.

It was not until many years later, at the end of the 1980s, that there were a few more attempts with surrealism.

surreal painting, oil pastels on glossy paper
mixed media girl and threats, surreal painting, oil pastels on glossy paper

Now surrealism is increasingly moving back into focus. In a new, very personal form, with a painting technique, he developed himself, which enables him to combine ideas of surrealism with other currents, such as expressionism or Asian techniques.

The first works in this new phase often referred to painters like Max Ernst in a very reserved manner or took up other concepts of the early Surrealists, such as Surrealist Automatism. as we know it from André Masson`s works.

white black red, gestural painting, ink on paper
surreal composition in green and black. gestural painting, ink on paper

The following is a list of works that show Friedrich Zettl’s new approach to surrealism. Concrete elements are noticeably disappearing in favor of a semi-abstract approach and gradually the surreal in the abstract comes into focus.

Catalog New Surrealist Concepts

The pictures are arranged in reverse order to the creation, as the newest works are always ranked first.

one of those nights. abstract surreal painting, ink on paper
one of those nights
奥地利画家老蔡绘画, dawn. abstract surreal painting, ink on paper
in the woods
semi abstract painting: ophelia 2022, abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper
Ophelia 2.0
painting about "is versus is not", abstract surreal painting, ink on paper

study for a seascape in oils: abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper by friedrich zettl

"is versus is not", abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper
is versus is not
What a dot can do. abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper
what a dot can do
morning meditation, abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper
morning meditation with my friends the painting of the stones
zen moments: river scene. abstract surrealism painting, ink on yupo paper

meditating with my friends, the stones: abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper

vision at the pond: abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper

corona nd the sea: abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper

study for the big bang: abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper
trying the big bang
remembering a landscape as negative of a film, abstract surrealism painting, ink on yupo paper
remembering a landscape. hommage á max Ernst
landscape theme and variation II, abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper

composition with window with shutters, from the corona series: abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper

composition day and night from the corona series: abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper

composition with landscape from the corona series: abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper

burning down the snow: abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper
burning down the snow
the beast: abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper

three creatures: art brut surrealism painting, ink on yupo paper
老王与他的小龙 the old Mr. Wang and his little dragon, abstract surrealism painting, ink on paper
the old wang and his dragon

related POST. some of the works are offered at artmateur and saatchiart

15 comments on “new surrealism concepts”

Some interesting stuff. Yes, I see the Max Ernst connection. Also a little Matta? I love Masson, BTW. Or I used to. Surrealism was very influential. Still is. Many different kinds too.

Thank you! Yes! Actually André Masson was important for me at the beginning. Especially his ink drawings. Later I realized that he was playing around with Zen-Buddhist paintings – but less good. Matta I liked a lot too.

BTW Thank you for mentioning Matta. Now that I checked his paintings again I realize how close to his concepts I am now.

Yes, interesting too the relationship between Matta and Arshile Gorky. (In more ways than one!) And that Gorky’s work is commonly regarded as proto-abstract expressionist. And that brings us full circle since abstract expressionism is, as it were, abstract surrealism. I’m making that up. There is no such a category. But there should be!

Some strong images. What medium are you using? Inks?

Yes, inks. Chinese ink which I grind myself and Western inks – spending a fortune on those 😄

Awesome stuff!
Art

Thank you for your kind words! I am happy to hear you like my work.

The link to your post about your Chinese friend and the traditional sumi-e artwork … I notice many comparisons to Chinese script in most of the works shown here. Is it intentional?

Thank you! Yes! I have studies Chinese painting in Beijing and did traditional sumi-e for many years. My new works mostly seem to be Western but several aspects like composition and brush work follow Asian thoughts.

Stunning work here. I’ve always loved the surrealists but you’ve really made some bold stuff that is completely modern and feels fresh. Kudos.

Thank you so much for your kind words! This means much to me!

Love the surrealist works I saw on your YouTube channel some of which appear here. Especially the mixture of photography? and inks? in the one called “In the Woods.” The combination is great. The inks seem a natural for surrealism under your hand.

Thank you once again! You are very kind! Yes, this technique helps me to do my surrealist works, especially adding a dream-like component.

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