Great Art Explained: Dorothea Tanning

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Dorothea Tanning painted the dark side of Surrealism. Her work sprang from the fantastic and the supernatural happenings we find in Gothic and Romantic literature, as well as the dream narrative of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Drawn to fairy tales and gothic literature as a child, in Tanning’s paintings, young girls grapple with otherworldly forces in dark, frightening places, that blend elements of the everyday and the grotesque.
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I would like to thank all my Patreon supporters, in particular Adriana Nemet, Alan Stewart, Alexander Velser, Alyssa Phillips, Anja Zeutschel, Brooks Kossover, Bria Nicole Art, David Asabreu, Christa Sawyer, Eric Mann, Erique K, Griffin Evans, Hugo Moita, Jemma Theivendran, John Baer, Julio Cardenas, Karim Hopper, Kibibi Shaw, Louise Tait, Monte St Johns, New Curiosity, Paul Ark, Paul Waterman, Pavel Juszczyk, Sean Welgemoed, Stefan Paisson, Stephen Beresford, Tanya Moore, Theresa Garfink, Toni Ko, and Will Dew's-Power.
"What a brilliant series this is" - Stephen Fry on Twitter
SUBTITLES
Spanish subtitles by Alma Perdamo
I input the English subtitles myself but I rely on volunteers to do subtitles for other languages and I really appreciate it - just contact me at [e-mail]
CREDITS
Opening Animation and Title Sequence by Brian Adsit (instagram brian_vfx?... and Behance www.behance.com/badsit88)
Sound Mix by Robert Lewis (Thank you!)
All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel do not claim any right over them.
MUSIC
Music by Ayush Pal - Blumenlied (Flower Song) - Gustav Lange (Op. 39) - Please subscribe to his wonderful channel - • Blumenlied (Flower Son...
Overlaid with Horror music:
Track: “Phobia”
Music by Elysium Audio Labs
www.elysiumaudiolabs.com
bit.ly/2QmAxRW
BOOKS, CATALOGUES AND ESSAYS
Women Artists and the Surrealist Movement by Whitney Chadwick and Dawn Ades
Women in the Picture: Women, Art and the Power of Looking by Catherine McCormack
Between Lives - An Artist & Her World: An Artist and Her World by Dorothea Tanning
Exquisite Dreams: The Art and Life of Dorothea Tanning by Amy Lyford
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

[@GreatArtExplained]

The first 100 people to use code GREATART at the link below will get 60% off of Incogni: incogni.com/greatart

[@ijgamingxd4831]

😢😢😢🎉🎉🎉

[@ijgamingxd4831]

😮😂😮😢😢 16:17

[@ijgamingxd4831]

😮 5:40 5:40

[@ijgamingxd4831]

😢🎉🎉😢😢

[@kidmohair8151]

greta music explained? or would that be a bridge too far?

[@cardboard2night]

Speaking of Freud: the fact that his "studies on hysteria" was based on actual stories women told him on sexual harassment and rape done to them by their husbands, fathers or other male family members... He heard all of their stories, wrote them done... And didn't publish it, instead secluding it, cause it was the husband, the fathers who actually paid him for his studies. To "cure" their women, who were suffering from ptsd. So he blamed it all on subconsciousness.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Great comment. Thanks 🙏

[@garmtpug]

Freud seemed to have some "problems" of his own...

[@matanyaholmes3964]

And doing enough cocaine the amount all people on wall st. do for the year.

Freud was very biased. He'd get patients who were men with overbearing/manipulative mothers and he'd immediately go "nope, it's the father". In his mind, no woman could be cause of fear or problems or impressions of any kind, they were all as bland as a white wall. He often didn't apply/follow his own theories if they contradicted his own bias.

[@TheGrifhinx]

​@@garmtpug"seemed" is a very kind word to add

[@treadhead1945]

I cannot express how much I wish I had you as an instructor in my Humanities classes at University

[@lilybleue8888]

How remarkable! I have never heard of her but instantly I feel like identifying with her paintings because that struggle on her canvas is universal in any women's daily life. I find it thought provoking. Thank you so much for introducing her art. I really enjoyed your work and learning experience.

[@GreatArtExplained]

You are so welcome!

[@marcvolpe8252]

LILY YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL ADORABLE SEDUCTIVE RAVISHING SEXY CAPTIVATING AND PASSIONATE YOUR BEAUTY IS PHENOMENAL IF MICHELANGELO WERE ALIVE TODAY YOU WOULD BE HIS MUSE LET ME FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU ❤

[@catau8000]

as a female i'm devastated that I've heard of nearly all of the male surrealist painters and none of the female ...I truly appreciate this video which corrects faults of past art history lessons I've been exposed to

[@FranzJrob]

He who increases knowledge, increases sorrow.

[@justinxxd]

With any art form I honestly think that there are more people under the radar that just have not been documented but I do believe that they were there. I guess I Give it the benefit of a doubt and hope

[@julijepp]

​@justinxxd I always think of Onfim from Novgorod, a child from the 13th century who's homework, done on birch bark that had been tossed as waste, was found by archeologists in modern times. His homework includes doodles of battles and drawings of himself, all stick figures that look just like the kind of drawings a kid would do today, and yet he is long gone, but we know his name through some miracle of time

[@ifjNagyMiklos]

What a pleasant surprise to see a new release! And from an interesting artist I never heard of before.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Hope you enjoy it 🙏

[@kevincurrie2052]

I have never heard of Dorothea before either. I can’t wait to check out more of her work. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I feel both educated and entertained.

[@jdinnen1]

Excellent. Informative and concise and a fitting tribute to the artists all without patronizing an audience. Even the ad at the end of the video is well thought out, it doesn't obnoxiously interrupt the video or flow of information

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks 🙏 I insist on ads at the end.

[@jdinnen1]

@@GreatArtExplained thank you for that. so many creators mess up the flow of their own videos slapping them in the middle. keep doing what you're doing! you're videos are bordering on a masterpiece, pun intended

[@caitlinryan394]

Wow. Love to see more women painter's covered in your videos. Not because they are women so much as because their work is overlooked. When I watch videos on women artists, I not only learn about a new artist to enjoy, it gives some context to the times and movements to which they belonged. I had never heard of Dorothea Tanning until now. Thank you!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you liked it! Thanks 🙏

[@janelleg597]

Painters***

[@laughingbeast4481]

Ever heard of Toyen ? She's fascinating aswel.

[@Eumelmann]

Fascinating. One of the best channels on KZbin. No bullshit, just very well presented information.

[@olga138]

Thank you for this program! I'm a little embarrassed that I never heard of this remarkable artist. What a wonderful talent.

[@wasnt_it]

what a life-- imagine what it would have been like to have such a rich historical perspective in the year 2012!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Please "like" and leave a comment. It really helps promote the channel - thanks, James

[@TheFireflycam]

Love these vids, keep up the awesome work, mate😁👍

[@maxmiao8832]

Awesome content!! It would be awesome if you could focus on great artists from non-western traditions too! I really liked the great wave video feature you did! It got me interested and hooked to learning more about other artists from a non-european/north-american tradition. Look forward to more content!

[@hodayahsm2332]

When I was a young child, around ten years old, I saw this painting in Tate Britain and fell in love with it. My parents bought me a postcard of it. I no longer know where the postcard is and I don't quite feel the profound connection I had to this piece anymore, but I just know that was the first time I had such a connection to a piece of art in a museum, which is now a profound part of my life.

[@philzahariev3289]

I remember I saw the Dorothea Tanning exhibition at the Tate Modern in 2019 and it had such a profound effect on me. It had a wide spectrum of her work including the room 202 and she has remained my favourite surrealist and one of the most striking artists I have ever seen.

[@blurrylights6344]

Wow! Thank you so much for introducing me to this artist. The Magic Flower Game, like all of her paintings you show, are interesting in a come closer, stay away kind of way. Your narration is always so helpful for appreciating art especially the possibly peculiar ones. I should say "uncanny". Thank you.

[@jorgereyna1796]

your videos are always an absolute treat

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you like them!

[@Mattie0602]

Thank you for introducing me to a fantastic artist. I really love surrealist and symbolist paintings, anything uncanny. Now I want to learn more about Dorothea Tanning.

[@BluePiano1]

It’s an honor to have been a part of this amazing video! 🔥

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks so much for allowing me to use it!

[@marcoscherrutti1451]

Another great artist I now know of and I'm amazed by, all thanks to you. Thank you so much for your work Mr. Payne.

[@RaineHoltz]

I love when you drop a new video! Always a highlight of my day. :)

[@GreatArtExplained]

Wow, thank you!

[@eriktempelman2097]

Perhaps the single most important thing I learn from your essays is this: All art is connected, artists to each other, to philosophers, occasionally to politicians. It is a conclusion I cherish.

[@jeff__w]

I’ve never heard of Dorothea Tanning and I find her work “challenging” (i.e., it doesn’t really appeal to me)-which, for me, might be true for most surrealist art-but_ I _like_ art that is challenging-I have to pay attention to my reactions. There’s something deliciously subversive in Tanning’s description of growing up in smalltown Illinois as having “an atmosphere of eerie bourgeois calm”-that alone would draw me to her. (Having your gangster boyfriend hauled off on a date to become the victim of a mob hit would seem to indicate that, if you’re aspiring to escape that atmosphere, you’ve probably succeeded.) So, thanks, as always, James, for yet again expanding my horizons in terms of great art.

[@MarkLiversedge]

Love this painting. And your film is just perfect. FWIW I always considered the two girls to be the same person in the present- the dark haired girl being the innner self and the blonde the outward projection to the world- the corridor represents time, with the dark girl looking to the past and death (see the door numbers) and the blonde facing the future clinging to a precious memory.

[@66evilEye]

I had seen this painting before, but knew nothing about Dorothea Tanning. What a fascinating person, what a life! Love this channel, thanks so much!

[@cdmnumber3fan]

Hi! Just wanted to say thanks so much for all of your great content. I’ve just recently became something of an art fanatic so these videos have been invaluable when it comes to helping me learn about these great works. You are awesome!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks 🙏

[@MichaelSavidgeStoryteller]

James, this is an excellent video! I can not believe Dorothea lived so long and, in that time, created an abundance of fascinating art. I love learning about Dorothea's past and her love of literature; while art can be subjective, knowing more about an artist's past brings further appreciation to the symbols and subjects an artist incorporates. You always deliver an informative and entertaining lesson in art history. Cheers!

[@morriganwitch]

I now know why I love this painting xxx

[@acmadretsma8983]

This really is a wonderfull channel! Thank you!

[@OGMeaty2020]

Explained a million times better than my art history professor, literally had no idea why tanning was important till this video.

[@evavanglinska1922]

My new Friday evening routine, thank you!

[@GreatArtExplained]

You're so welcome!

[@lily2441]

Her paintings are so extraordinary, they take my breath away. What a fantastic life she lived.

[@cloipto]

Thanks for your time and effort, have you done a talk/video on , THEY DID NOT EXPECT HIM ?

[@michaelrusso8466]

I've always thought the women who painted surrealism are the true stars of the movement. Gertrude Abercrombie, Leonor Fini, Leonora Carrington - and of course, Dorothea Tanning. Would love to see an episode on Leonora Carrington's "And Then We Saw the Daughter of the Minotaur," which is on permanent display at the Modern here in New York. Thank you for another wonderful and informative video!

[@Epicsperience]

Saw “Birthday” on exhibit in the Philadelphia Museum of Art in September 2023. Loved seeing more of Tanning’s art in this video!

[@jelejacques]

Tanning was an extraordinary artist. Her art can be appreciated without beenig a deep diver art lover. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik have so many layers and so many possible narrative. Thanks for the great content again!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Well said! Thanks 🙏

[@Vinkelsag]

Love your videos, I hope you one day do one on Zdzislaw Beksinski. To this day I`m flabergasted with his art.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Great suggestion!

[@stephhascall2893]

Great video! I have lived 45 minutes from Galesburg for 25+ years and I have never heard of Dorothea! Thank you for enlightening me!

[@meredithbignell7333]

Thank you so much for making art 'approachable.' I always learn so much but in such an effortless way. Your passion is infectious!

[@jdinnen1]

Waiting for this most of the week. Love this channel

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@ricardokowalski1579]

3:46 so many open doors. Botero also paints open doors, cabinets, drawers. These items are opportunities, mysteries. When they are open it is interesting, but when doors are closed the denial is striking. Solid content.

[@kathyjohnson2043]

I have been hearing about videos that show nude women (breasts, specifically) being demonetized. I hope this isn't happening to any of your wonderful videos!

[@PitboyHarmony1]

demonETized? or actually demonized?

[@kathyjohnson2043]

lol, well I'll correct it now that you pointed it out, but I'm not sure they don't mean what I posted. @@PitboyHarmony1

[@truegritcouture]

Wonderful as always. Thank you! Would love to learn more about Leonor Fini 💐

[@filmhaltig]

This painting and Tanning as an artist fascinated me for some time. Thank you for giving them the thoughtful recognition they deserve.

[@babyblouie4761]

You can feel the genuine passion from your every video, you’re not afraid of vulnerability like some other nerdy channels. I also love how you focus on underrated artists! This seems so interesting

[@davidb3990]

Amazing video- really exciting to learn about an artist who we should all be exposed to but likely weren’t

[@pixies646]

Thanks for focusing on such an important 20th century artist. Did she hold the same views about 'female artists' until the end, I wonder? The hopes and potentials of the early 20th century for (women) artists changed radically and often. That she went from painting to soft sculptures (sewing) is so loaded. Thanks again for your insightful and fascinating stories

[@ll5974]

An unknown (to me) artist! Excellent! Thank you!!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Welcome!

[@xyz7572]

Thank you for actually explaining the milieu and environment artists live and create in, and how their struggles based on how they were viewed by the larger society influenced their art! It’s incredibly interesting to get to view art from a perspective closer to what the original artist had, and see how it opens up explanations and meanings within their work. All your videos about artists are spectacular, and the ones about female artists particularly so, because you state things just the way they are - without trying to mollify and smooth over things that are uncomfortable, but instead simply retelling the circumstances and letting the viewers form an understanding from the perspective of the artist. Your videos are splendid!

[@kieron576]

A video on Remedois Varo’s works would be amazing. I saw the exhibition of her works in Chicago and fell in love with her ability to convey a surrealist narrative throughout her paintings and drawings

[@talkinghead69]

What a great video! Please consider covering Remedios Varo in one of your next videos. Her paintings have an otherworldly feeling to them.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Noted

[@jordansteinohrt]

I only get excited when this channel or JCS drops new clips.

[@maryjeffries9251]

I have watched all your videos and this one is my favorite. How she is not as famous as other artists is a shock to me. Her paintings are so unsettling and yet so striking and they get under my skin. Of all of them, I love the Magic Flower Game the most and my husband got it for me for Christmas. It's hanging in my living room and it's all thanks to you and your wonderful work. Thank you for your lovely offerings and please keep sharing these beautifully researched and enlightening videos with us all!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you so much!

[@crankyoldperson6871]

This is one of my favourite paintings of all time.

[@TrippyKitty08]

I love her love her love her!!!! She was so important to me as a young artist. I love surrealism. She was just so cool.

[@bruceneeley1724]

I look forward to hopefully a deep dive into Ernst. His imaginative versatility & exploration, I believe, is unmatched in 20th century art. Great channel!!!!

[@tomboolery]

Thank you for taking me so far away from my cubicle with every upload

[@GreatArtExplained]

Any time!

[@linnmulder4772]

Thank you so much for making this video! I had never heard of Dorothea Tanning and yet I recognize her symbols and themes in my own work :)

[@jvballatore]

Fantastic, one of my favorite artists. Keep up the good work!

[@patrickross5509]

Amazing as always. Thank you.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you too!

[@bigredlittlered2476]

Thank you James

[@heatherrobertson6110]

Fascinating. Thank you!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Rehearsal3434]

Wow! Your analysis is awesome. I am reminded of the late great Roger Ebert. You don’t just explain the painting, you discuss important issues. Thank you.

[@samanthagreen8054]

I want to cry with Joy. THANK YOU for sharing this knowledge. Your posts are truly entertaining while simultaneously educational and thought provoking, infused with Passion for ART. 😍😎😏💙

[@jimmyzbike]

Thank you for introducing me to her art.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Any time!

[@GuilhermeCarvalhoComposer]

Excellent video once more. I remember discovering some of her works during the 2022 Venice Biennale, among the "The Milk of Dreams" exhibition. Very nice to learn more about her and her work.

[@marialindbergh3926]

This is the first time I learned about Tanning. What a bad ass! Thank you so much for this video❤

[@kevinsacks3185]

Best art channel on KZbin.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you 🙏

[@0HARE]

What a fascinating episode! I love her art, and love more her independence, and her proliferation. Thank you.

[@HeavensRipper-he4sz]

I LOVE your perspective. It is amazing that someone like you is making videos like these.

[@GreatArtExplained]

I appreciate that!

[@TheyreStillOutThere]

So happy to see even just a passing mention of Kay Sage. She’s my favorite artist.

[@dharmakaurkhalsa3923]

Always grateful to you for allowing me to become a more cultured human being through your videos. Be blessed! ❤

[@superiorsiegeengine33]

Two of my favourite artists in a row, another great video! I can't wait for the next one!

[@GreatArtExplained]

More to come!

[@LuluJinx1111]

Thank you so much for this information. I was familiar with her and her work, but I didn’t know the gravity of her importance. ❤

[@a-8007]

I was shell-shocked by her The Temptation of St. Anthony. Thank you for showcasing her

[@Imoverherestrokingmydick]

Your uploads genuinely brighten my day mr James I will greatly enjoy this one thank you for your hard work and as always looking forward to the next one

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you kindly

[@AlexFrisina]

I love this channel. Great video!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you! 🙏

[@kidmohair8151]

thankfully, I was able to watch this without ads. Thank you Mr Payne for this. revelation.

[@methosb]

Seemed to me like the girl in red is expressing an exhausted relief as she seems to be leaning against the door frame head up with eyes closed. After defeating the sunflower that was perhaps trying to drag them to the door?

[@yashikanaranpanawa3612]

I can't thank enough for the amazing content you create. I am learning so much from your videos.

[@maplesyrup2]

Glad to see a new release! Great work as always!!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Much appreciated!

[@lilpixie25]

Gorgeous video, Tanning's work is quite aggressive and ferocious, I adore it :)

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you so much!

[@nathaliacassettari8435]

What a great piece of art! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us! Already lojinha foward to the next video

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks for watching!

[@otiliaamaral1853]

Love your channel. Very interesting and insightful.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you! 🙏

[@Yurrita]

You are a master of your craft, this was so informative and captivating!! So much important art history packed into every single video

[@user-nf3ro5rg7t]

Still the best channel on KZbin. Great episode.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Wow, thanks!

[@Klavieralter]

These videos are astounding. They are the definition of edification. After watching them the world feels more fascinating and I feel motivated to discover more. Many thanks for shining a light on Tanning. A door has been opened for me.

[@chandlerd3200]

I use these videos with my students all the time. cant get enough of them!! Thank you!! 😍

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you like them!

[@johnaziz57]

Amazing as always

[@pectenmaximus231]

Another wonderful introduction to an artist and their ideas. You make the conceptual and cultural background to art so accessible and personal. It’s really lovely. Also you note that female surrealists were more personal, in contrast with the more abstract approaches of male surrealists (all the art is abstract - I think it’s more the detachment). I think this is in a way my own draw to art made by women: it seems to have less posturing, it’s a bit less tedious. Sort of “take it or leave it”. I think male artists, like men generally, have always had a deeply competitive element, with each other and themselves. This is good in many ways, but it also means that much of the art has a little piece of it that is forced, where the woman’s art just ‘is’.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Great comment - thanks 🙏

[@DiegoSita]

Are you saying men's art is "forced" in some way, whereas women's are more "true"? Is that it or did I miss something?

[@lolobolly]

Loved it....great work as always

[@rhythmythicles]

As always, thank you!

[@angstymedusa]

Thank you for showcasing this artist, I had not heard of her before. I took a surrealist art class in college but so few women we're covered.

[@montsemeouchi7482]

Thank you for these videos

[@neidrawilliams7144]

Awsome as always 👌

[@jwillington6625]

Thank you! I find Dorothea's work dream like, awakening, and empowering. It seems we had the same fodder for our inspirations. That she rocked it out to 101 is a testament to her staying power. As always, I appreciate your writing, research, and exploration :)

[@skreech107]

your videos are easily some of my personal favorite content!

[@AS-yh6xu]

Thank you so much for your work!

[@gnarbeljo8980]

Well done! I didn't know Ernst left Peggy for her only a week or so after their introduction... Wow! Also Carrington and Meret Oppenheim were such interesting artists, Maya Deren, and Kahlo too, much later, all developed such interesting, groudbreaking visual vocabulary for their personal experience of the world that most women today can recognize as also their own to some degree. They all had so much more to deal with as artists in such a predominantly male and intellectualized world as the art world. Louise Bourgeois would be very interesting to hear you introduce without focusing too much on her spiders, as most everyone does. Her tremendous body of work is still widely unknown to people outside the art world, yet she was SO productive, and in recent times at that. She was also important to many young artists today, as she held an "open salon" in her home in NYC once a week for like minded people and discussed the work, supported talent in her own way. I'm curious how you'd fit her artistry into this format. Really challenging thought. You're so clever at doing these videos. It's very important work you do. Thank you!

[@allysoncipollone890]

Another wonderful video! Thank you!

[@croatianshiftry]

Great video as usual Mr. Payne! Can't wait for the next one :)