Surrealism, an artistic and literary movement that emerged in 1920s Paris, has a deep connection to the works of the Marquis de Sade. This connection is based on a shared admiration for the unconscious, freedom of the mind, and the challenge of bourgeois morality.

Shared ideals and themes

• Abolition of bourgeois morality: Both de Sade and the Surrealists sought to break through conventional moral and social norms. De Sade’s radical depiction of sexuality, violence and power paralleled the Surrealists’ desire to transgress the boundaries of what was accepted and allowed.
• Exploring the unconscious: Surrealism was heavily influenced by Freud’s theories on the unconscious. De Sade’s works, which delve deeply into the dark sides of the human psyche, served as a model for the Surrealists in their exploration of the hidden, often repressed aspects of the human mind.
• Freedom and anarchy: De Sade emphasized the absolute freedom of the individual, an idea that was taken up and further developed by the Surrealists. They saw de Sade as a champion of artistic and personal freedom against the restrictive structures of society.

Influence on surrealist artists and authors

• André Breton: The “pope” of surrealism, André Breton, praised de Sade in his “Manifesto of Surrealism” and considered him to be one of the first surrealists. Breton saw de Sade’s writings as anticipating surrealist ideals, particularly with regard to freedom of expression and the exploration of human nature.
• Literary works: Surrealist authors such as Georges Bataille, who himself had a fascinated relationship with de Sade, used the themes of violence, sexuality and transgression in their works. Bataille’s “The Accursed Share” is an example of the incorporation of sadistic elements into a surrealist narrative.
• Art: In the visual arts, surrealists such as Salvador Dalí and Man Ray reflected de Sade’s influence in their works. Salvador Dalí created a series of illustrations based on de Sade’s works. In 1969, Dalí produced a portfolio entitled “The Marquis de Sade”, which contains twenty-five lithographs. These artworks were commissioned to visually interpret and illustrate de Sade’s plays and original works.

De Sade as a symbol

• Myth and icon: De Sade became a kind of icon for the Surrealists, symbolizing the pursuit of a life beyond norms and conventions. They saw his works as manifestations of a free, unbound existence.
• Events and writings: The Surrealists organized readings and discussions of de Sade’s works, and he was often mentioned and analyzed in writings such as “Le Surréalisme au service de la révolution”.

Criticism and controversy

Not all aspects of de Sade’s philosophy or his extreme depictions were uncritically accepted by the Surrealists. There were debates about the limits of freedom and the ethical implications of de Sade’s ideas. Nevertheless, admiration for his challenge to the existing orders remained a central element of Surrealist ideology.

The connection between Surrealism and de Sade is deep and complex. De Sade’s works provided the Surrealists not only with inspirative themes and methods, but also with a historical and philosophical foundation for their vision of a world beyond the rational and moral order of bourgeois society. This symbiotic relationship has left a lasting mark on both de Sade’s afterlife and the development of Surrealism.