surrealism

 
Pronunciation: /səˈrɪəlɪz(ə)m/

noun

[mass noun]
  • a 20th-century avant-garde movement in art and literature which sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example by the irrational juxtaposition of images.
  • Launched in 1924 by a manifesto of André Breton and having a strong political content, the movement grew out of symbolism and Dada and was strongly influenced by Sigmund Freud. In the visual arts its most notable exponents were André Masson, Jean Arp, Joan Miró, René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, Man Ray, and Luis Buñuel

Derivatives

surrealist

noun & adjective

surrealistic

Pronunciation: /-ˈlɪstɪk/
adjective

surrealistically

Pronunciation: /-ˈlɪstɪk(ə)li/
adverb

Origin:

early 20th century: from French surréalisme (see sur-1, realism)