Surrealism

What happened

Launched in Paris in 1924 with André Breton's first manifesto, Surrealism sought to unlock the unconscious mind and the world of dreams. Artists such as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, and Max Ernst painted uncanny, dreamlike images and invented chance-based techniques to bypass rational control.

Why it matters

Surrealism brought the dream, the irrational, and the subconscious into art, profoundly influencing later painting, film, and advertising.

Sources

• Tate. Surrealism · Reputable source