French writer and collage artist, Hugnet moved to Paris at only 16. An admirer of Dada, he later became a supporter of Surrealism, joining the group in 1930. In spite of taking part in a number of the group's activities, namely in collage work, Hugnet concentrated mainly on writing poetry. He took part in various Surrealist exhibitions but, in 1938, after a disagreement with André Breton, was expelled from the group. He, nevertheless, continued to write poetry inspired by Surrealist theory at the same time as becoming increasingly involved in the historical development of Dadaism. With the publication of L'Aventure Dada, 1916-1922, Georges Hugnet became the movement's self-appointed official historian.
