4 Salvador Dali Paintings You Should Know About
Some view Salvador Dali as a madman, while others see an irreplaceable genius. Regardless of one's view, there's no doubt that Salvador Dali impacted the art world in a dramatic and historic way. He was a leader within the surrealism movement, depicting scenes that bordered the conditions of a dreamlike world and reality.
Eccentric himself, Dali aimed to create pieces that sparked imagination. His collection is both thought-provoking and mesmerizing — and although he created dozens of influential pieces, here are four Salvador Dali paintings you should know about.
4 Salvador Dali Paintings You Should Know
Salvador Dali was not afraid to depict his own thoughts, feelings, and emotions based on his personal life and the events that were affecting the world around him. Highly influenced by psychology, war, the unconscious mind, and shocking visual techniques, he created some of the most famous surrealism pieces of all time.
Whether you're a fan of surrealism or not, you can't deny the unique style that Dali offered the public. In his later years, he branched off of surrealism, experimenting within his classical period. Not only are his paintings detailed, but the concepts and ideas behind each painting are even more complex. Ahead of his time, these paintings are some of the most influential in his collection.
1. The Persistence of Memory
(1931 — oil on canvas)
Photo source: Bethany Lutheran College
Perhaps one of his most famous paintings, The Persistence of Memory is a depiction of a dreamlike state. In fact, Dali described a number of his paintings as “hand-painted dream photographs.” The painting itself takes place in his home region of Catalonia, Spain and some have interpreted this piece as a self-portrait. The melting clocks and level of decay depict the central theme perfectly — time.
2. Self Construction with Boiled Beans
(1936 — oil on canvas)
Photo source: Flickr
Dali created this influential piece based on the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. Although General Franco had not yet invaded Spain, this painting clearly depicted what many Spaniards felt as they were exposed to violence and destruction. The geometric creature appears to be wrestling itself, portraying the compelling depths of Dali's unconscious mind.
3. Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Wakening Up
(1944 — oil on canvas)
Photo source: Flickr
This painting depicts Dali's wife, Gala, in a tranquil state. Dali encouraged viewers to consider the relationship between both external and internal realities. Like in many of his other paintings, this dreamlike state was highly influenced by the ideas of Sigmund Freud — allowing Dali and other surrealist artists to better understand imagery and symbolism.
4. The Face of War
(1940 — oil on canvas)
Photo source: Wikipedia
Dali was often inspired by traumatic periods of war. At the end of the Civil War and the beginning of World War II, he created The Face of War. Through surrealism, Dali aimed to depict the true ugliness of war and suffering. He used tones of brown to evoke the feelings of misery and the faces themselves exude fear and terror. The barren landscape symbolizes the collective feeling of loneliness which occurs during war.