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The Surrealist group stages a 1934 ‘trial’ of Dalí and later expels him as a public schism

In February 1934 the Surrealist group publicly tried Dalí for political and commercial heresy, a schism completed in the late-1930s expulsion. In the causal graph this event strengthens Political Polarization, a driver that weakens Having a say in government — a worsening welfare path.

Sources: [1][2]

Read the full account

In February 1934 the Surrealist group publicly tried Dalí for political and commercial heresy, a schism completed in the late-1930s expulsion.

Context

A schism can clarify ethics and can become a brand. Split Persistence as a MoMA object.

Salvador Dalí’s documented role is bounded by other offices and collaborators named in the sources below.

On 11 February 1934 Breton’s circle convened a ‘trial’ over Dalí’s political ambiguities and commercial appetite; the 1939 break completed the public expulsion. Breton wrote; Dalí performed the scandal. Polarisation of an avant-garde into orthodox and heretic is the stored path.

Why it matters

An avant-garde heresy trial polarised a public art movement into factions.

A trial is not the 1929 film.

Who was responsible

Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.

  • Salvador Dalí

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    responsibility level 0.45 · verified

What changed

Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.

    1. FactThe Surrealist group stages a 1934 ‘trial’ of Dalí and later expels him as a public schism
    2. strengthensDriverPolitical Polarization
    3. weakensIndicators (2)Having a say in government
    Worsening path

    impact weight 0.5 · Effect from 11 February 1934 · verified

    An avant-garde heresy trial polarised a public art movement into factions.

    • Having a say in government

      via Political Polarization

      Worse

      Weakens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)

      Observed

      29.8% of population aged 16-65 years · 8.13 below the normal line (2023)

      Worse than normal

      Two readings: 30.2% of population aged 16-65 years (2021) and 29.8% of population aged 16-65 years (2023).

      20212023

      Above normal = better

    • Rule of Law Gap from the Highest Governance Score

      via Political Polarization

      Worse

      Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)

      Observed

      43.9 Score · 43.9 above the normal line (2024)

      Worse than normal

      26 readings, 1996–2024: rose from 43 Score to 43.9 Score.

      Normal is zero · any amount = worse

Evidence

The sources behind this fact and its verification state.

Verified2 sources on file
  1. 1.Britannica — Salvador DalíEncyclopaedia Britannica · High credibility · verified
  2. 2.Fundació Gala-Salvador DalíFundació Gala-Salvador Dalí · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish

Fundació chronology and Britannica independently describe the Surrealist trial and later expulsion.

Established: 1934 Surrealist trial and later expulsion in the public file. Not established: that he held a party card as the cause.

Causal path

How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.

  1. ActorSalvador Dalí
  2. contributed toFactThe Surrealist group stages a 1934 ‘trial’ of Dalí and later expels him as a public schism
  3. strengthensDriverPolitical Polarization
  4. weakensIndicatorHaving a say in government

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). The Surrealist group stages a 1934 ‘trial’ of Dalí and later expels him as a public schism. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/dal-expulsion-1934

https://factrail.ai/facts/dal-expulsion-1934

Accessed 16 October 2026.

By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed

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