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Exhibition of surrealists’ paper works at the National Gallery of Denmark (SMK) hides an exquisite darkness. There are no melting clocks or elephants in the desert here. But truly great and intense images.

It's beautiful, but brutal

Giant breasts, tiny arms. Don't be mistaken. Surrealism is filled with macho vibes and something that resembles visual assaults on the female body. Here in the cheerful end from a so-called cadavre exquis by Joan Miró, Max Morise, Man Ray, and Yves Tanguy from 1927. Foto: © Centre Pompidou
Giant breasts, tiny arms. Don't be mistaken. Surrealism is filled with macho vibes and something that resembles visual assaults on the female body. Here in the cheerful end from a so-called cadavre exquis by Joan Miró, Max Morise, Man Ray, and Yves Tanguy from 1927. Foto: © Centre Pompidou
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We carry it in our language. When something feels inexplicable or strange, we say to each other: »Shit, that was surreal.«

In its French descent, the concept of surrealism somewhat confusingly refers to something super-real.

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