This striking 1960 poster for the International Surrealism Exhibition in Paris reflects the enduring vitality of the Surrealist movement well into the postwar era. Held at the Galerie Daniel Cordier between December 1959 and February 1960, the exhibition gathered leading figures and works connected to a movement that had profoundly reshaped modern art, literature, and visual culture since the 1920s.
The poster’s imagery is deliberately unsettling yet elegant: a formally dressed figure whose necktie transforms into flowing hair. This unexpected visual substitution perfectly embodies Surrealism’s fascination with dream logic, subconscious imagery, and the disruption of everyday reality. The stark photographic style combined with vivid typographic accents enhances the sense of poetic dislocation.
By 1960, Surrealism had evolved from avant-garde rebellion into an established artistic force, yet exhibitions such as this reaffirmed its experimental spirit and international reach. The poster therefore functions not only as an announcement but also as a manifesto — a reminder that imagination, symbolism, and psychological exploration remained central to contemporary artistic expression.
Today, it stands as an iconic example of late Surrealist graphic design, capturing both the intellectual ambition and the visual wit that defined one of the twentieth century’s most influential artistic movements.
Exhibition Poster
Exhibition - Surrealism - France
Daniel Cordier Gallery - Last major Surrealist exhibition
Printed by Sonovision
Good condition, minor restorations
Sign up & benefit from discounts or exclusive offers.