Final answer:
Surrealist artists ignored traditional artistic norms, rational thought, and religious mandate, utilizing subconscious thoughts, dreams, and the concept of idiosyncrasy. Their work employed automatic drawing and at times, drug use, to create dreamlike, bizarre, and uneasy images meant to challenge and unsettle viewers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Surrealist artists largely ignored conventional artistic norms and rational thought, focusing instead on unleashing the subconscious mind. This manifested in their art as dreamlike scenarios and bizarre juxtapositions. They often focused on the concept of idiosyncrasy rather than madness, influenced by Sigmund Freud's ideas on the subconscious revealed in The Interpretation of Dreams. Instead of relying on religious beliefs or existing notions of sanity, Surrealism used automatic drawing, a method bypassing conscious thought, and sometimes drugs to delve into the subconscious. They disregarded traditional representation of nature and logic, using obtuse humor and color to express the movements of the subconscious, as seen in the works of Chagall, Sage, and Dalí.
Imagery in Surrealism was meant to challenge viewers by being eccentric, weird, or bewildering. Surrealist artists did not adhere to the trends of painting based on daily life or religious iconography, but instead reshaped perception by reflecting subconscious thoughts. During World War II, many Surrealist artists brought their unconventional approach and dream imagery to North America, adding to the movement's diverse influences.