Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual art, poetry, and literature of the group members. Surrealist works feature the element of surprise, unexpected juxtapositions and non sequitur; however, many Surrealist artists and writers regard their work as an expression of the philosophical movement first and foremost, with the works being an artifact. Many surreal works are created through the use of techniques and games to provide inspiration, which are said to free imagination by producing a creative process free of conscious control. The importance of the unconscious as a source of inspiration is central to the nature of surrealism.

Famous surreal artists, writers, and filmmakers include but are not limited to:
Luis Buñuel, Giorgio de Chirico, Jean Cocteau, Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, Alberto Giacometti, Valentine Hugo, Marcel Lecomte, René Magritte, E. L. T. Mesens, Joan Miró, Paul Nougé, Méret Oppenheim, Francis Picabia, Louis Scutenaire, André Souris, Yves Tanguy, and Toyen. (Wikipedia)