"Painting is life, the real life, my life"
Victor Brauner (1903–1966) was a Romanian-born surrealist painter known for his visionary, mystical, and symbolic imagery. Born in Piatra Neamț, Romania, he studied art in Bucharest before moving to Paris in the 1930s, where he became closely associated with the Surrealist movement led by André Breton. Deeply influenced by occultism, mythology, dreams, and the subconscious, Brauner developed a unique pictorial language combining fantastical creatures, hybrid beings, and esoteric symbolism. After a brief separation from the Surrealist group, he rejoined them post–World War II and remained committed to their ideals until his death. His works are considered among the most personal and enigmatic in Surrealism, reflecting a deep inner world shaped by exile, vision, and prophecy.