One of the techniques used by Surrealist artists in a bid to exploit the mystique of accident was a collective painting or collage of images called the cadavre exquis (exquisite corpse). This was based on an old parlour game, played by several people, each of whom would write a phrase on a sheet of paper, fold the paper to conceal part of it, and pass it on to the next player for his contribution.

In this instance each artist had one half of a canvas board to paint half a face on. When dry a light pencil line was drawn on to the blank half where the eyes, mouth; top and bottom of the face shape began and ended. The painting was covered, before passing it on to another artist who used the lines as guides to complete the painting.

David Williamson
Camberwell Grammar

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