Skip to main content

Copies of letters and papers concerning the "Affaire Carrouges," a Surrealist controversy also called the "Affaire Pastoureau"

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0808

Content Description

This collection contains seven documents from the 1950s concerning the Surrealist turmoil originating from the "Affaire Carrouges." All of the documents were duplicated from the originals by a mimeograph process. The original manuscript papers were written in 1951 by the Surrealists Henri Pastoureau, André Breton, Benjamin Péret, Maurice Henry, and Patrick Waldberg. It is unknown whether these specific Surrealists reproduced all of these particular documents in this collection, but it is likely, as at least one of the manuscript items was signed in handwriting by André Breton and Benjamin Péret.

The documents are letters, reminiscences, meeting minutes, and essays regarding the "Affaire Carrouges" and the actions of the perpetrators. Several of the items are many pages and conjoined by staples, while others are single pages. There is representation from both sides of the conflict in this collection.

Source: Gershman, Herbert S. “L'Affaire Pastoureau.” Yale French Studies no. 31 (1964): 154-158. Accessed April 6, 2018. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2929738

Dates

  • Creation: 1950s

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval.

Contact Special Collections for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical / Historical

Surrealism was an early 20th-century movement that aimed to uncover individuals' subconscious mind, and revolutionize humanity's concept of cultural constructs. They attempted to do so utilizing the juxtaposition of ideas, images, and music. Surrealists were also vehemently anti-religion, which was the root of the "Affaire Pastoureau."

In 1951, there was a conflict between Surrealists Henri Pastoureau and Michel Carrouges due to the latter's failure to denounce religion in his studies. Pastoureau and four others sabotaged Carrouges' lecture "Où en est le surréalisme?" by declaring their opposition to the audience and planting hecklers. This event was referred to as the "Affaire Carrouges," or the "Affaire Pastoureau," and resulted in the fracturing of the Surrealist movement in France for three months.

Source: Gershman, Herbert S. “L'Affaire Pastoureau.” Yale French Studies no. 31 (1964): 154-158. Accessed April 6, 2018. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2929738

Extent

1.169 Cubic Feet (7 legal-size folders)

Language of Materials

French

Abstract

This collection contains copies of seven documents created in the 1950s concerning the Surrealist turmoil originating from the ‘Affaire Carrouges’. In 1951, a conflict between Surrealists Henri Pastoureau and Michel Carrouges due to a disagreement about religion resulted in the fracturing of the French Surrealist movement for three months. There is representation from both sides of the conflict in this collection.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from Antiquariaat J.A.Vloemans in May 2017.

Processing Information

Processed by Charlotte Gassoway in April 2018.

Title
Guide to the Copies of letters and papers concerning the ‘Affaire Carrouges’, a Surrealist controversy also called the ‘Affaire Pastoureau’
Author
Charlotte Gassoway
Date
April 2018
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA