Surrealism

Surrealism had began to exist in the 20th century because of a french poet called Andre Breton, making two official surrealist manifestos in 1924 and 1929, though there was a third surrealist manifesto that was never launched.  The word surrealism had originated from the french language, having two main forms of surrealism can be seen, the first being 'Oneiric' dream-like imagery, the other being 'Automatism' a process of making automatically, drawing and writing using the unconscious mind. Its aim was to reveal the unconscious mind and present it within the 'real world' or 'reality'
Key artists within the movement were:

• Salvador Dali
• Max Ernst
• Rene Magritte
• Joan Miro
• Lucian Freud

Rene Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist and was known for his number of interesting, witty, deep and thought provoking images. He was an internationally acclaimed surrealist, he often depicted ordinary objects in an unsual and surrealist context, believing that what is concealed is what is more important than what is in open view, his art pieces would challenge observers perceptions of reality, his work has influenced pop, minimal and conceptual art

A surreal poem that Cabrae Voltaire had
collaborated with the surrealist movement

A famous Dali art piece with strong and obvious surrealist context

Salvador Dali was known for his oddball, unusual and eccentric actions and personality that grabbed the publics attention to him, sometimes more to him then his artwork. He was a skilled draftsman known for his striking and bizzare surrealist artwork of paintings, sculptures, photography, drawings and short clips he made while working in collaboration with many other artists, taking influence from Renaissance painters. Many of his art pieces have hidden meanings and symbolism, some easier to understand than others.
His association wasn't as expected with the surrealist movement, even though he was the most famous artist within the surrealist movement, he was often criticised for love of attention and commercial desires.