How did Carl Jung influence Surrealism?

While Sigmund Freud provided Surrealism’s primary theoretical foundation, Carl Jung’s ideas also influenced the movement, particularly among later practitioners. Jung proposed the collective unconscious-a shared reservoir of archetypes and symbols common to all humanity-which resonated with Surrealists interested in universal imagery transcending individual psychology. His concept of archetypes (Mother, Shadow, Anima/Animus) provided vocabulary for understanding recurring symbolic figures. Jung’s emphasis on mythology, alchemy, and spiritual transformation particularly influenced Visionary Art and artists like Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo who incorporated alchemical symbolism. While Breton remained committed to Freudian frameworks, Jung’s ideas expanded Surrealism’s psychological vocabulary and influenced Mystical Art traditions that emerged from Surrealist practice.