Meaning: The quote refers to a significant moment in the history of surrealism and its impact on the art and literary scene in New York during the early 1940s. The French surrealists, a group of avant-garde artists and writers known for their exploration of the unconscious mind and rejection of rationalism, played a crucial role in shaping the cultural landscape of New York during this period.

At the outbreak of World War II, many European artists and intellectuals sought refuge in the United States, leading to an influx of creative minds from across the Atlantic. Among them were several prominent figures associated with the surrealist movement, such as André Breton, Max Ernst, and Marcel Duchamp. This migration brought new ideas and artistic influences to American shores, contributing to a vibrant exchange of avant-garde aesthetics and intellectual discourse.

The magazine mentioned in the quote is likely "VVV," a publication launched in 1942 by the group of French surrealists who had relocated to New York. The magazine, characterized by its large format and high-quality production, served as a platform for showcasing surrealist art, literature, and ideas. It featured contributions from both European and American artists and writers, reflecting the cross-cultural exchange that defined the surrealist movement in exile.

"VVV" played a pivotal role in introducing American audiences to surrealism and its diverse manifestations, ranging from automatic writing and dream imagery to experimental visual art and provocative manifestos. The magazine's pages were filled with striking images, thought-provoking texts, and innovative layouts, offering readers a window into the surrealists' radical reimagining of reality and their embrace of the irrational and the subconscious.

The impact of "VVV" extended beyond its immediate readership, as it helped catalyze a broader interest in surrealism within the American art world. Through its bold and boundary-pushing content, the magazine challenged conventional artistic norms and expanded the horizons of creative expression, influencing a new generation of artists and writers who were drawn to the surrealist ethos of unfettered imagination and subversion of established norms.

Kenneth Koch, the poet who made the quoted statement, likely recognized the significance of the surrealists' arrival in New York and the publication of "VVV" as a transformative moment in the cultural history of the city. The magazine's impact reverberated throughout the artistic community, leaving an indelible mark on the trajectory of avant-garde movements in the United States and shaping the evolution of artistic experimentation and innovation in the post-war era.

In conclusion, the quote captures a pivotal chapter in the transatlantic dissemination of surrealism and its profound influence on the artistic and intellectual milieu of New York during the early 1940s. The emergence of "VVV" and the presence of the French surrealists in the city marked a transformative period of cross-pollination and creative ferment, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to resonate within the annals of art history.