The Exquisite Corpse was invented in 1925 in Paris by the surrealists Yves Tanguy, Jacques Prévert,André Breton and Marcel Duchamp.

The name ‘cadavre exquis’ was derived from a phrase that resulted when they first played the game, ‘le cadavre exquis boira le vin nouveau’ (‘the exquisite corpse will drink the new wine’).

Steps for the Drawing Game:

  1. Fold a piece of paper horizontally: one fold for each person playing the game.
  2. Draw a design in the top section and just over the edge of the next fold.
  3. Fold your drawing under so it is hidden, pass the paper to the next person, and ask them to repeat this step.
  4. When a round of drawings has been completed, open the paper to reveal the composite drawing and display it.