What is Exquisite Corpse?

The Exquisite Corpse (cadavre exquis) is a collaborative drawing or writing game invented by Surrealists in 1925. Participants contribute to a composition in sequence, each seeing only part of what the previous person created. In drawing versions, a figure is created in sections (head, torso, legs) without seeing the whole until completion. The game produces surprising, often humorous combinations that bypass individual conscious control and create genuine collective unconscious expression. The technique exemplifies Surrealist interest in chance, collaboration, and accessing the unconscious through structured play. Contemporary artists and educators continue using Exquisite Corpse to generate unexpected imagery.