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Dada vs Surrealism: what is the difference?
Dada (c. 1916 – 1924) and Surrealism (1924 – 1960s) side by side.
Surrealism grew out of Dada, and several artists, including Max Ernst, Jean Arp and Man Ray, took part in both. Dada wanted to destroy the logic and conventions that had led to the First World War. Surrealism wanted to build something new from the unconscious mind.
Side by side
| Dada | Surrealism | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | c. 1916–1924 | 1924–1960s |
| Where it began | Zurich (Cabaret Voltaire), then Berlin, Paris, New York | Paris |
| Aim | Anti-art: mock reason, tradition and the art establishment | Unlock the unconscious through dreams and chance |
| Methods | Collage, photomontage, readymades, sound poetry, performance | Automatism, dream imagery, frottage, realistic depictions of impossible scenes |
| Tone | Absurd, nihilistic, provocative | Dreamlike, mysterious, erotic |
| Key figures | Hugo Ball, Tristan Tzara, Marcel Duchamp, Hannah Höch | André Breton, Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Max Ernst, Joan Miró |
Dada: key characteristics
- Rejection of logic, reason and traditional art
- Chance, absurdity and humour
- Collage, photomontage, readymades and sound poetry
- Performance and provocation
- A response to the horrors of the First World War
Key artists: Tristan Tzara, Max Ernst, George Grosz, Jean Arp, Francis Picabia, Kurt Schwitters. Read the full Dada guide →
Surrealism: key characteristics
- Dreams and the unconscious mind, influenced by Freud
- Unexpected juxtapositions and dream imagery
- Automatic drawing and writing to bypass conscious control
- Realistic technique applied to impossible scenes (Dalí, Magritte)
- Games of chance, collage and new techniques such as frottage
Key artists: Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Frida Kahlo, Joan Miró, Paul Klee, Tristan Tzara. Read the full Surrealism guide →
Frequently asked questions
Did Dada become Surrealism?
Largely, yes. In Paris many Dadaists, led by André Breton, broke away in the early 1920s; Breton's first Surrealist manifesto appeared in 1924.
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