What is the difference between Surrealism and Dadaism?

Dada (1916-1924) and Surrealism (1924-present) share anti-rational stances but differ fundamentally in approach. Dada emphasized destruction, negation, and anti-art gestures-rejecting all systems including art itself. Surrealism channeled similar rebellious energy toward constructive goals: accessing the unconscious mind and transforming human consciousness. While Dada embraced chaos and meaninglessness, Surrealism sought deeper meaning through dreams and psychology. Many artists including Max Ernst and Hans Arp transitioned from Dada to Surrealism. Dada’s techniques (collage, readymades, chance procedures) were adopted and refined by Surrealists. Dada was deliberately short-lived; Surrealism aimed to be a lasting revolutionary movement with systematic methods and philosophical foundations.