Surrealisti

Surrealisti refers to the Italian movement closely linked with the broader international Surrealism that began in the early 1920s. The term itself originates from the Italian language and is often used to describe artists, poets, and thinkers who engaged with the surrealist ideas of dream imagery, automatism, and the exploration of the subconscious. While Surrealism began in France under the guidance of André Breton, its influence quickly spread to Italy, where local artists incorporated national cultural motifs and political concerns into the surrealist framework.

The first Italian surrealist group was formed in Milan in 1926, comprising artists such as Giorgio de Chirico, who had already been experimenting with metaphysical painting. The group connected with Purismo and the Futurists, leading to a synthesis of avant-garde styles. Influential Italian surrealists include Alberto Savinio, the nephew of famed artist Giacomo, and the poet and novelist Dino Buzzati, whose works often merged fantastical settings with a sense of bureaucratic mundanity. The movement reached its peak during the interwar period, with exhibitions at the Galleria Rossiere and the Futurist-sponsored salon in Rome.

In the post‑World War II era, the legacy of surrealisti continued through the Arte Povera movement, where artists such as Michelangelo Pistoletto and Alighiero Boetti incorporated automatic and dreamlike elements into their work. Though no longer a unified group, the influence of surrealisti remains present in contemporary Italian art, especially in collaborative projects that emphasize spontaneity and the subconscious. The movement's lasting impact is evident in its continued exploration of symbolism, anti‑establishment critique, and the blending of reality with fantastical imagery.