Andre Breton had ended Nadja with the bold statement that: “Beauty will be CONVULSIVE or will not be at all.” In L’Amour Fou (Mad Love) from 1937 he further expands on the theme with the declaration: “Convulsive beauty will be veiled-erotic, fixed-explosive, magic-circumstantial, or won’t be at all.” Accompanying the text are three photographs illustrating the types of convulsive beauty: Man Ray‘s Veiled-Erotic, a stunning nude study of the Swiss artist Meret Oppenheim, Fixed-Explosive also by Man Ray and Brassai‘s strange Magic-Circumstantial. All the images had previously appeared in the Surrealist magazine Minotaure.
Man Ray-Erotique Voilee-1933
Man Ray-Fixed-Explosive 1934
Brassai-Magic Circumstantial 1931
cakeordeathsite 
I hope read Breton’s Nadja, beautifully sensual photography.
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Thank you Miss Heart. I am not sure that I fully grasp what Breton is up to here. There is a tension in the terms used, almost contrary states. A dialectic of desire? Do read Nadja, a very strange little volume.
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My impression is that Breton’s theory re convulsive beauty is that one must challenge logic and moral constraint. I’m intrigued by the photographs.
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They are intriguing photographs made even more intriguing by their inclusion in the book as example of convulsive beauty. Definitely wished to challenge rationality and conventional morality.
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A most thoughtful article and artwork. Thank you Mr. Cake.
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Thank you Miss Heart. I do try to instruct and entertain.
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You’ve succeeded on all counts with your amazing blog.
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You are being far too kind but thank you.
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I could not be more sincere. Thank you.
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Well I do try. Thank you.
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Stunning photos. The nude of Meret is gorgeous with its light and shadows. And the other two are marvelously mysterious.
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Breton also said (he said a lot of things) that only the Marvelous is beautiful. For all their faults the aim to re-enchant the world was a noble one, though probably an impossible one.
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This certainly merged with that philosophy. Yes, a shame that the reality of the world cannot be overcome with enchantment. We must try to imbue it upon our personal experience. At least part of the time…
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Which is exactly what Breton thought. One of his early important essays was called Discourse on the Paucity of Reality. Most of Surrealism is aimed at re-enchantment. Though Breton would have said all the time and for that social structures would have to be completely transformed, and that it had to re-enchanted collectively, not just by the alienated individual. Hence the political engagement.
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Interesting that surrealist ‘enchantment’ had (for the most part) such a deeply disturbing aesthetic. It very well reflects our darker natures and that unexplainable subconscious mind. I wonder how a surrealist revolution would have looked in practice? A fascinating idea to contemplate!
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In a way the world has become more surreal. It is very mediated anyway. Not sure about the re-enchantment though.
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Not unless evil enchantment counts!
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The more Bataille orientated wing would have been influenced by Nietzsche and aimed for a morality beyond good and evil.
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Well I was speaking in a general sense and with a touch of sarcasm. Morality is complicated.
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Luis Bunuel said that for him Surrealism is more than art, it was an ethics and a way to live life. But yes, morality is complicated.
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The multifaceted movement has so many layers which remain unknown or under known by most. This is what you’re good at unveiling.
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Thank you kindly. I do like my Surrealism.
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What a bold statement, pretty interesting. Hurray, Cake.
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Thank you for the enthusiasm. You are funny.
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Mr Cake beautiful photo of a strong powerful female, thank you for your blog, a joy as always. Glad you have returned.
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Thank you my pleasure as always.
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