Paul Éluard – Poetry / Surrealism
Full name: Eugène Émile Paul Grindel
Birth: Saint-Denis, France
Movement: Surrealism
Artistic Journey
A major poet of the 20th century, Paul Éluard began writing at a very young age. He was deeply affected by World War I and the illness that struck him. He joined the Surrealist movement in the 1920s, collaborating with André Breton, Salvador Dalí, and Man Ray. His work explores love, freedom, revolt, and brotherhood. During World War II, he participated in the Resistance and wrote committed poems published in clandestine newspapers. His style combines lyricism, simplicity, and the power of poetic imagery, influencing contemporary poetry.
Major Works
Capitale de la douleur (Capital of Pain) (1926) – Foundational collection blending love, melancholy, and dream.
L’Amour la poésie (Love, Poetry) (1929) – Poems celebrating freedom and the power of love.
La Vie immédiate (Immediate Life) (1932) – Exploration of intimacy and human emotions.
Liberté (Liberty) (1942) – Iconic poem of the Resistance, symbol of struggle and hope.
Poésie et vérité (Poetry and Truth) (1942-1943) – Committed works, blending lyricism and activism.
Le Temps déborde (Time Overflows) (1947) – Collection reflecting his reflections on life and memory.
Style and Influences
Surrealist and lyrical poetry, combining surprising imagery with simplicity.
Themes: love, freedom, brotherhood, resistance, dream, and imagination.
Influences: André Breton, Max Ernst, Man Ray, and the Parisian artistic climate of the 1920s–1940s.
Quote
“There is no such thing as chance, there are only encounters.”
