Artnet News published a list of must-read books on Surrealism, marking the movement's 100th anniversary since André Breton's 1924 Surrealist Manifesto. The article highlights key texts including Breton's own "Manifestoes of Surrealism" and his novel "Nadja," Patrick Lepetit's "The Esoteric Secrets of Surrealism" exploring occult influences, and Whitney Chadwick's "Farewell to the Muse" focusing on women Surrealists who were often marginalized as muses rather than artists.
The list matters because it provides accessible entry points for understanding Surrealism's enduring cultural relevance, especially as the movement's centennial has been celebrated with major exhibitions worldwide. By featuring both foundational manifestos and revisionist scholarship on overlooked female artists, the article addresses contemporary interest in Surrealism's radical rejection of rationality—a theme that resonates with today's "surreal times"—while also correcting historical imbalances in art historical narratives.