Magic Realism

The turn of phrase of magic realism was invented by German photographer, art historian and art critic Franz Roh in 1925 when he wished to describe modern realist paintings that portrayed fantastical or dream-like topics as their subjects of attention. The term originates from Roh's book Nach Expressionismus: Magischer Realismus which translates as “After Expressionism: Magic Realism".

In 20th century European culture, Magic Realism partook in a reactionary movement against modern or avant-garde art, known as the return to order. This movement in the arts was largely founded around a philosophy that came as a result of the legacy of the First World War. Magic realist artists included Giorgio de Chirico, Alberto Savinio and others in Italy, and Alexander Kanoldt and Adolf Ziegler in neighboring Germany. Magic Realism is closely related to the dreamlike depictions of Surrealism and Neo-Romanticism in France. The term is also used to describe the work of certain painters from across the pond in America in the 1940s and 1950s including Paul Cadmus, Philip Evergood and Ivan Albright. It has also been known to describe the practices of literature, such as the writing of Jorge Luis Borges and Gabriel García Márquez.

Discover on Artsper some of the best contemporary artists of the magic realist expression!

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Print, Le Bain, Pablo Picasso

Le Bain

Pablo Picasso

Print - 48 x 36 x 0.1 cm Print - 18.9 x 14.2 x 0 inch

$1,106

Photography, Femmes #3, Man Ray

Femmes #3

Man Ray

Photography - 30 x 22 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 8.7 x 0 inch

$5,686

Photography, Femmes #10, Man Ray

Femmes #10

Man Ray

Photography - 30 x 22 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 8.7 x 0 inch

$8,143

Painting, In interior, Elena Shichko

In interior

Elena Shichko

Painting - 49.5 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 19.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,989

Print, Costume de Bal, Man Ray

Costume de Bal

Man Ray

Print - 50 x 35 x 0.2 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

Sold

Print, Le mannequin, Man Ray

Le mannequin

Man Ray

Print - 50 x 35 x 0.2 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

Sold

Painting, Tinki, Rosemary Achata

Tinki

Rosemary Achata

Painting - 32.7 x 51 cm Painting - 12.9 x 20.1 inch

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Painting, Treasure, Elena Shichko

Treasure

Elena Shichko

Painting - 70 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Print, Relax, Frédéric Menguy

Relax

Frédéric Menguy

Print - 48 x 64.5 x 0.2 cm Print - 18.9 x 25.4 x 0.1 inch

Sold

Fine Art Drawings, Bread, Rosemary Achata

Bread

Rosemary Achata

Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 22.9 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 9 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Illimani, Rosemary Achata

Illimani

Rosemary Achata

Fine Art Drawings - 22.9 x 30.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9 x 12 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Surprise, Rosemary Achata

Surprise

Rosemary Achata

Fine Art Drawings - 22.9 x 30.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9 x 12 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Journey, Rosemary Achata

Journey

Rosemary Achata

Fine Art Drawings - 22.9 x 30.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9 x 12 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Cheese, Rosemary Achata

Cheese

Rosemary Achata

Fine Art Drawings - 22.9 x 30.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9 x 12 inch

Sold

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