Hard Chimeras – A Few Words on the Works of Surrealist Women Artists

Abstract

The article argues that the role of women artists is not fully acknowledgein the history of Surrealism. Works of women artists, located outside the canon, are overshadowed by the most prominent avant-garde works created by men. However, such Surrealist women artists as Leonora Carrington, Gisèle Prassinos, Dorothea Tanning, and Meret Oppenheim had a huge influence on contemporary art and literature.Surrealist women writers and visual artists create a different and extremely original world in their works, especially when judged against the background of canonicalworks. One example is Gisèle Prassinos’s novel Le visage effleuré de peine[Face touched by sadness].It tells the story of a young woman married to a scientist who relies on artificial intelligence in his daily life. The novel, although humorous, presents the woman as a strong, independent, and empathetic character, challenging the Surrealist visions of femme fatale. The article also attempts to show howSurrealist women writers influenced/still influence contemporary Polish literature.