What is Pastiche in art?

Pastiche is an artistic work that imitates the style of another artist, period, or genre, typically as tribute rather than satire (which would be parody). In visual art, pastiche might combine elements from different sources or recreate historical styles with contemporary subjects. Surrealists sometimes employed pastiche to subvert traditional art forms, mimicking Academic art techniques while inserting irrational content. Contemporary Pop Surrealism frequently references art history through pastiche, combining Old Master techniques with cartoon characters or pop culture imagery. Understanding pastiche involves recognizing both the source material being imitated and the transformation achieved through recontextualization.