Welcome to the Surrealist Dream Collection at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

Since 1965, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has been diligently curating an exceptional collection of Surrealist art. What started as a single purchase has blossomed into a world-class core collection featuring works by renowned artists such as Dali, Magritte, Man Ray, De Chirico, and Ernst, among others. Surrealism, a movement that originated in literature, is not merely a school but a collective attitude and lifestyle that celebrates automatism, chance, and the power of the subconscious.

Our collection encompasses a wide range of mediums, including paintings, sculptures, objects, drawings, prints, and photographs. Moreover, we take pride in our extensive selection of Surrealist publications, magazines, manifestos, and pamphlets, reflecting the movement's vibrant history. For the first time ever, we have gathered our dream collection in an exquisite catalogue raisonné.

Essays Unraveling the Surrealist Movement

Within the catalogue raisonné, you will find three insightful introductory essays. Sandra Kisters, our Head of the Collection and Research Department, provides a captivating overview of the Surrealist movement, revealing its key principles and influences. Saskia van Kampen-Prein, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, imparts her expertise in explaining the acquisition history and the establishment of our museum's extraordinary Surrealist art collection. Surrealism expert Laurens Vancrevel delves into our unique and often overlooked assortment of Surrealist publications, shedding light on the important role they played in shaping the movement.

108 Texts, A Glimpse into Surrealist masterpieces

The catalogue further offers 108 captivating short texts that accompany each artwork, providing insightful context and analysis. Written by Marijke Peyser, a renowned expert who earned her doctorate with a groundbreaking dissertation on the Zodiaque, a circle of patrons around Salvador Dali, these texts offer intriguing perspectives on the pieces in our collection. Additionally, Bert Jansen, another esteemed scholar, shares his expertise by exploring the artworks of Marcel Duchamp, a pivotal figure within Surrealism. Jansen's profound understanding of Duchamp adds another layer of depth to our exceptional collection.

Step into the surreal world of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen's astonishing collection. Immerse yourself in the uncanny, the unexpected, and the extraordinary as we unveil the hidden treasures of Surrealism.