Exquisite Corpse

👥 2–20 players 📍 Indoor📍 Anywhere ⚡ Calm 🧩 Simple ⏱ 10-30 minutes 🎂 Ages 4+

Quick Pitch

Exquisite Corpse is a surrealist collaborative drawing game where players create images by folding paper to conceal their contributions from subsequent artists.

Equipment Needed

  • Sheets of paper (8.5×11 or larger works well)
  • Pencils or pens
  • Optional: colored pencils for artistic results
  • Eraser (optional)

Setup

  1. Gather Players: Works with 2+ players; 4-6 players ideal
  2. Distribute Paper: One sheet per player initially
  3. Fold Paper: Some variants start with pre-folded sections

Rules

Basic Version

  1. First Player draws a head (human, animal, creature, object, or abstract) on the upper third of the paper
  2. Fold: Fold paper down to hide most of the head, leaving only the neck lines visible
  3. Pass: Hand to next player
  4. Second Player: Sees only the neck lines, draws a torso/body
  5. Fold: Fold to hide torso, showing only the bottom lines
  6. Pass: Hand to next player
  7. Third Player: Draws legs or lower body, seeing only the top connection
  8. Unfold: Reveal the complete creature

Extended Sections Version

For longer paper or more players:

  • Head
  • Upper torso/shoulders
  • Middle torso/waist
  • Lower torso/hips
  • Legs
  • Feet
  • Optional: Additional sections

Folding Technique

Standard Fold:

  1. Draw section in assigned area
  2. Fold paper so:
    • Your drawing is hidden
    • Only the connection points (top or bottom lines) show
    • Fold line clearly indicates where next section begins

Example:

[HEAD DRAWING]
-fold line with small marks- ← connection points shown
[BLANK SPACE]

Expert Player

Tips

For Artistic Results:

  • Make connection points (neck lines, leg connections) distinctive
  • Use varied line styles to guide next artist
  • Exaggerate connection points for clarity
  • Draw lightly so lines don't show through paper

For Humorous Results:

  • Make unexpected proportions
  • Use disconnects deliberately (tiny head, massive body)
  • Draw ridiculous expressions
  • Add absurd details (extra limbs, weird features)

Connection Drawing:

  • Look at connection lines carefully
  • Imagine what might flow from them
  • Try to smooth transitions even if results are funny
  • Or deliberately clash with connection hints for maximum absurdity

Drawing Skills Irrelevant:

  • Bad drawing is often funnier than good drawing
  • Stick figures can produce hilarious results
  • Confidence matters more than skill

Variations

Text Variation:

  • Instead of drawing, write descriptions
  • "Long neck with feathers"
  • "Muscular body with many arms"
  • Results are written descriptions instead of pictures

Hybrid Version:

  • Alternate between drawing and describing
  • Draw a head, describe the torso, draw legs, etc.

Rotational Pass:

  • Don't fold — player sees entire previous drawing
  • Makes more coherent (or more chaotic) results

Detailed Version:

  • Create highly detailed drawings
  • Use colored pencils for artistic results
  • Results are surprisingly cohesive sometimes

Group Monster:

  • Everyone draws at once on large paper
  • All adding to same creature simultaneously
  • Chaotic but very fast

Themed Version:

  • Theme: "Fantasy Creatures," "Space Aliens," "Dinosaurs"
  • All draw within theme
  • Results are thematically coherent but still absurd

Speed Version:

  • 30-60 second time limits per section
  • Rushed drawings are hilarious
  • Fast-paced party game

Color Coding:

  • Each player uses different color
  • Final image shows color sections
  • Visual record of who drew what

Story + Picture Version:

  • Alternate between drawing and writing descriptions
  • Build narrative while creating monster
  • Storytelling combined with visual art
Learn More — History & Origins

History & Origins

Exquisite Corpse originated with the Surrealist movement in 1925 in Paris, particularly associated with artists and writers including André Breton, Pierre Reverdy, and others. The name comes from a famous first result: "Le cadavre exquis boira le vin nouveau" (The exquisite corpse will drink the new wine). The game embodies Surrealist philosophy of unconscious creation and chance-based art. It became an iconic Surrealist parlor game and remains popular in art education and creative workshops.

Cultural Context

Exquisite Corpse exemplifies the Surrealist embrace of chance, unconscious creation, and absurdist humor. The game demonstrates how meaning and intention can collapse when control is removed. It remains popular in art education, creative writing workshops, and as a party game.

The game shows that art doesn't require skill or planning to be entertaining and thought-provoking. It appeals to artists and non-artists equally, making it inclusive. The unpredictability ensures each game produces unique results and often surprising artistic merit.

Exquisite Corpse has inspired digital versions, AI art experiments, and continues to influence contemporary art practice. Its philosophy of collaborative chaos and chance-based creation remains relevant to postmodern and contemporary artistic movements.

See Also