What is the Surrealist Manifesto?

The Surrealist Manifesto (Manifeste du surrealisme), written by Andre Breton and published in 1924, defined Surrealism as ‘pure psychic automatism‘ meant to express the true function of thought without rational control or aesthetic concerns. The text drew heavily on Freudian psychoanalysis, calling for artists to access the unconscious mind through dreams, automatic writing, and other techniques. Breton provided examples of Surrealist literature and outlined the movement’s philosophical positions. A second manifesto followed in 1930, further developing political commitments and addressing internal conflicts. The manifestos established Surrealism as a revolutionary movement aimed at transforming not just art but human consciousness and society itself.