What is the definition of Surrealism in art?

In art, the definition of Surrealism is a movement that emerged in the 1920s and was defined by dreamlike and uncanny imagery. It was often guided by a variety of techniques, such as automatic drawing, to channel psychological experiences. In the wake of World War I’s ravaging of Europe, artists delved into the unconscious mind to confront and grapple with this reality. Poet and critic André Breton, a leader of the Surrealist movement who authored the 1924 Surrealist Manifesto, called this approach “a violent reaction against the impoverishment and sterility of thought processes that resulted from centuries of rationalism.” Artists who produced Surrealist art included Max Ernst, Salvador Dalí, Man Ray, Joan Miró, René Magritte, Yves Tanguy, Frida Kahlo and Meret Oppenheim. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Surrealist art.