De Chirico revealed to the Surrealists a way of creating an alternate world by combining familiar and strange images to form an alternate universe. His approach to painting greatly differed from other styles of his time, isolating him as an Independent Fantasist.
Thus De Chirico, along with Rousseau and Chagall, built a complex and highly innovative foundation for their followers, the Surrealists. Each one can be appreciated and praised for his personal and original approach to fantasy. Accordingly, we will begin our examination by first looking at their most influential works, and then examining the works of the Dadaists and Surrealists.