What are the two types of Surrealism and how do they differ?

The two main types of Surrealism are Automatism and Veristic (Academic) Surrealism. Automatism emphasizes spontaneous, unconscious creation through techniques like automatic drawing, where artists let their hands move freely without conscious control. Artists like Joan Miro and Andre Masson practiced this approach, producing abstract, biomorphic forms. Veristic Surrealism, practiced by Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte, depicts dreamlike scenes with meticulous, realistic detail, creating impossible scenarios that appear photographically real. Both approaches aim to access the unconscious mind but through different visual strategies. Contemporary artists often blend both approaches. Explore Abstract Surrealism on our site.