Surrealism: The word itself evokes dream-like, absurd yet serenely beautifully painted images. Back in the early 20's when surrealism was of the most radical and obscene of art who would have realized that this style and form of art would become classic. And yet today a piece of surrealist art work is sure to be admired by all lovers of art, traditional or contemporary.

While Dada was the anti-art, rejecting all that the art world held near and dear, Surrealism had a different view on art. These artists believed that paintings depicting ordinary scenes from life were important to art, but that the canvas needed to make room for imagination. They believed a painting could hold all things the artist could dream up, and that was where true and exciting art was formed.

The philosophy of the movement fit the aesthetic of the art quite literally. They thought that human beings needed to be freed from what they saw as a false rationality and all of the expectations and beliefs of social norms and customs. They were also interested in Freudian psychology, especially the unconscious and dreams.

Perhaps even more stereotypically perfect was the fact that most of these famous artists met in cafes, hanging out drawing, sketching and talking politics, psychology and art.

The first name that probably comes to mind with the word Surrealism is of course, Salvador Dali, who is almost just as famous for his grandiose attitude and style (the handlebar mustache!) as he is for his melting pocket watches. One could truly have classified him as a dandy bohemian, as he wore coats, stockings and knee breeches—truly retro at the time!

While it was Dali who would become most famous, he by no means invented surrealism. Other famous surrealists include Andre Breton, arguably the group's leader, Max Ernst, Man Ray, Hans Arp, , André Masson, Joan Miró, Marcel Duchamp, Jacques Prévert and Yves Tanguy. Dali even fell out of the surrealist circle during the golden years of the movement, as others saw him as wanting fame and money, not in it just for the art, politics and philosophy.

Whether it is a Salvador Dali or a more obscure surrealist painting, a surrealist piece of art is a safe gift-bet for nearly anyone! Lovers of classical styles of art tend to appreciate the classic, often Renaissance styling of Dali and anyone who is more radical or into contemporary art is sure to appreciate the major influences the surrealists had on art as a whole.

Just as the images in the paintings are often a shock,, why not surprise an art lover you know this Holiday season with a surrealist piece of art. Oil Painting Express would love to create a beautiful replica of any of these masterpieces, to be ready in time for the Holidays!