Exquisite corpse is a collaborative drawing and writing game that was invented by surrealist artists in the early 20th century. The game involves a group of people taking turns drawing or writing on a piece of paper, without seeing what the previous person has contributed. Each person folds the paper to conceal their contribution, leaving only a small portion visible for the next person to continue from.

The resulting drawing or piece of writing is often surreal and nonsensical, with unexpected combinations of images and ideas. The name “exquisite corpse” came from a phrase that emerged from one of the earliest games played by the surrealists, which was “The exquisite corpse shall drink the new wine.”

The game was invented as a way to explore the subconscious mind and to create new forms of artistic expression. It has since been adapted and used in a variety of contexts, including education, therapy, and creative writing. The game can be played with any number of people, and can be adapted to different themes or prompts to encourage creative thinking and collaboration.