Apparently some Jackson Pollock thingies were hanging on the walls of some white shoe firm in the World Trade Center, and of course were destroyed when the towers went down. I have a friend who declares that was the only positive outcome of 9/11.
Drawing a “line” is a rather, umm, linear way to approach Surrealism. You could start out with Andre Breton’s First Surrealist Manifesto. Or go back to Dada, precursor to the Surrealist Movement. The Movement is well documented–it had members (until Breton excommunicated them) & fellow travelers. There’s a Surrealist Movement in the USA. But the Movement influenced many who had no real contact with The Pope.
Pollock was influenced a bit, but I wouldn’t consider him a very good example. Hey, he studied under Thomas Hart Benton, too!
As a Houstonian, I had Surrealism handed to me on a silver platter–because John & Dominique de Ménil settled here after WWII. Art collectors & social activists, they sponsored numerous art exhibits before founding The Menil. Over the years, I’ve seen some of the best Surrealist visual arts & have been able to visit works in the permanent collection repeatedly.
Looking at art is the best way to understand it. Books & the 'net are great. But check out your local museums. If you travel, see what the world’s galleries have to offer.