Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members.

Surrealist works feature the element of surprise, unexpected juxtapositions and non sequitor; however, many Surrealist artists and writers regard their work as an expression of the philosophical movement first and foremost, with the works being an artifact. Leader Andre Breton was explicit in his assertion that Surrealism was above all a revolutionary movement.

Surrealism developed out of the Dada activities of World War I and the most important center of the movement was Paris. From the 1920s on, the movement spread around the globe, eventually affecting the visual arts, literature, film, and music of many countries and languages, as well as political thought and practice, philosophy and social theory.

Salvador Dali was considered a flamboyant painter and sometime writer, sculptor and experimental film-maker, Salvador Dali was probably the greatest Surrealist artist, using bizarre dream imagery to create unforgettable and unmistakable landscapes of his inner world. His most famous work is The Persistence Of Memory.

Dali often clashed with André Breton and other members of the “official” Surrealist circle over the content of his paintings and the right-wing views he sometimes espoused, and was kicked out of the group in 1934. Breton coined a brilliant anagram for Dali’s name: Avida Dollars (which more or less translates to “Eager for Dollars”); Dali shot back, The only difference between me and the Surrealists is that I am a Surrealist.