Surreal Play #1 1950

Herman Graff made this etching, Surreal Play #1, at an unknown date. Graff’s composition, full of dreamlike imagery, prompts questions about art’s relationship to the subconscious, a major theme for the surrealists. Note the theatrical setting, the juxtaposition of figures, and the contrast between stasis and motion, all rendered in finely etched lines. Though undated, this work's style suggests it was made sometime after the Second World War. It is important to remember that institutions and art are not independent of wider historical trends. After the Second World War, there was growing interest in psychoanalysis. At the same time, many artists aimed to make a break with the past and explore the human condition in a way that reflected the trauma of war. Graff here seems to critique classicism and embrace a freer and more expressive aesthetic. To better understand this artwork, we could research the history of surrealism, its key ideas, and its most important artworks. We could also look into the life and career of Herman Graff, his influences, and his place in the art world. The meaning of this work is thus contingent on its social and institutional context.