Surrealism and Operative Alchemy: The Secret Language at the Origins of the Surrealist Movement

- Draws on rare primary documents to reveal the connections between surrealism, 20th century alchemy, and 19th century occultism

- Explores 匜iphas L憝i, Jewish and Christian Kabbalah, and Hermeticism to show how surrealist symbology contained an initiatory dimension or "secret teaching"

- Details collaborations between surrealists Andr?Breton, Bernard Roger, and Salvador Dal?and alchemists Ren?Alleau, Eug鋝e Canseliet, and Fulcanelli

Over the last century the primal strangeness of the surrealists has become world-renowned, but what isn't so well-known is the hidden relationship between surrealism and alchemy. The works of both traditions not only had a decisive influence on each other but created a unique path for alchemy to leave its underground workshops to impact culture.

Patrick Lepetit draws on rare primary documents to reveal the connections between surrealism, 20th century alchemy, and 19th century occultism. Patrick examines the hidden subtleties of surrealism to see the esoteric messages embedded in its vision of the self and cosmos. He explores the writings of 匜iphas L憝i, Jewish and Christian Kabbalah, and Hermeticism to show how surrealist symbology contained an initiatory dimension, a "secret teaching" that was integral to its expression. Early alchemists used codes and word games, such as the perfect and divine "language of the birds," to discuss the work in ways that would baffle the uninitiated and evade the suspicions of the church, and this deeply inspired the surrealists. Readers will learn about artists Andr?Breton, Salvador Dal? Irene Hillel-Erlanger, Bernard Roger, and Jorge Camacho and how they worked with alchemists Fulcanelli, Ren?Alleau, and Eug鋝e Canseliet.

Surrealism and Operative Alchemy is a deeply researched study that situates the surrealists in their proper place as members of an age-old tradition of wisdom.