When Did Surrealism End?

Surrealism as a formal movement is often dated from 1924 (Andre Breton’s first manifesto) to 1966 (Breton’s death), though the movement had fragmented earlier due to political disputes, World War II’s displacement of European artists, and personal conflicts. Many artists departed or were expelled over disagreements with Breton’s leadership. However, Surrealism never truly ended-it evolved and dispersed into subsequent movements including Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and contemporary genres like Pop Surrealism and Dark Art. Surrealist techniques and aesthetics pervade advertising, film, music videos, and digital art. Today, artists worldwide continue creating work in explicit dialogue with Surrealist traditions, demonstrating the movement’s ongoing vitality.