I have friends who say William Blake invented surrealism before surrealism even before surrealism was borne, yet - I believe Blake is pure symbolism.
Put plainly, the main difference between symbolism and surrealism is that symbolism uses discrete, intellectual symbols, while surrealism has abstract, intuitive symbols.
The special thing is that Blake's symbols are from his own mythopoetic imagery.
It would be wrong to limit Blake to his well-known "Marriage of Heaven and Hell", and "Songs of Innocence and Experience". There is a sensitive side in him, not just the revolutionary one.
Take "The Whirlwind of Lovers", for example.
Art underground critics might find it Blake's strongest work (and name it the first surrealistic painting), but surely it's not as famous as the "Great Red Dragons":
So here's some food for thought: if you find monsters depicted on Blakes paintings, read his "Book of Thel", "Milton: A Poem" and "A Marriage of Heaven and Hell". Then look again.
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