Why were artists expelled from the Surrealist group?

The history of the Surrealist movement was marked by frequent expulsions, defections, and personal attacks, largely because its primary leader, André Breton, demanded firm doctrinal allegiance from all members.1

Breton, who defined Surrealism as a movement of pure psychic automatism free from rational control, maintained a tight-knit circle and expected strict adherence to his principles. Expulsions often occurred due to:12

• Ideological and Aesthetic Disagreements: Members were frequently removed or broke away based on conflicting views regarding the movement's direction or the personal political and artistic choices of its participants.3
• Political Tensions: The movement became deeply involved in the political climate of the 1930s. For example, Breton’s own shifting relationship with the Communist Party—which he joined and later broke with—created internal friction that influenced the standing of other members.2
• Lifestyle Conflicts: In some instances, such as within the British Surrealist community, groups were divided by claims that certain contributors maintained anti-Surrealist lifestyles, leading to internal dissent and the eventual dissolution of cohesive units.3

Ultimately, because Breton viewed Surrealism as a rigorous pursuit of the unconscious, he did not tolerate deviations from the movement's established doctrine.1