The History
As the 20th century began, the world was taken aback by the many art movements that were emerging. In 1920, the city of Paris numerous cultural movements appeared. The term that gave birth to the movement was the term ‘’Surrealist’’, that was coined by French writer and art critic, Guillaume Apollinaire. The surrealist based the majority of the artistic principles on the writings of Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis; because Freud believed that a lot could be discovered through dreams and the subconscious. One of the characteristics of artists that associated themselves with the Surrealism movement was that their works were all dream-like and whimsical. In fact, there is one artist in particular that embodies Surrealism, a Spanish gentleman that went by Salvador Dalì. This great painter is referred to as being the father of Surrealism. The works of Dalì were extremely puzzling due to the odd composition and dream-like subject matter. However, in the end his pieces were filled with meaning and were accurate reflections of the society at that time.
THE ART
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Debris of an Automobile Giving Birth to a Blind Horse Biting a Telephone
Artist: Salvador Dalì (1904, Figueres – 1989, Figueres)
Year: 1938
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 21 1/2 x 25 5/8" (54.5 x 65.1 cm)
Location: Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA
Year: 1938
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 21 1/2 x 25 5/8" (54.5 x 65.1 cm)
Location: Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA
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Los Elefantes (The Elephants)
Artist: Salvador Dalì (1904, Figueres – 1989, Figueres)
Year: 1948
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: Not Available
Location: Private Collection
The piece is composed of two long legged elephants facing each other, one on either side of the canvas. At the feet of our two elephants there is a desert-like landscape with a gazebo structure placed between two hills. Also, standing at the tall are two people that seem to be looking at each other, we notice their long shadows before even noticing them. As a result of the composition, when viewing this piece for the first time, the visual path follows the gradient of the colours in the background all while moving from left to right. This painting contains movement that appears mainly in gradient due to the setting of the sun. Also, we can see the elephants attempting to move toward each other. Moreover, the two long legged elephants facing each other is a demonstration of the almost perfect symmetry Furthermore, the small hut-like structure located at the bottom center of the canvas defines a centered vertical line that balances the piece. Dalì’s painting, has contrast that can be broken down into two parts. Firstly, the top half of the painting has a red background that is contrasted against the two elephants, painted in tones of brown and grey. Secondly, in the bottom half of the canvas contains a gradient of orange to yellow that is contrasted alongside the brown hues of the mountainous landscape. In addition, the coulours used to create this piece consist of a bold and rich crimson red that slowly fades into a golden yellow. Those two colours are complimented by a variety of brown hues. As a result of the colours, the mood evoked by this piece is powerful and bold, yet somewhat romantic because of the crimson gradient. Also, there is a whimsical allure to the painting, because of the elephants that and the main subject matter. Since Salvador Dalì’s paintings often had reoccurring elements, such as these long legged elephants, he created an index that defined the symbolism behind them. That being said, the meaning of the elephants was revealed as having ‘‘skinny,fragile, long legs ,because they symbolize men shackled to the earth by gravity but always reaching for the higher. This is the reason why the legs get longer and longer but the feet stay attached to the ground.’’(1)
Year: 1948
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: Not Available
Location: Private Collection
The piece is composed of two long legged elephants facing each other, one on either side of the canvas. At the feet of our two elephants there is a desert-like landscape with a gazebo structure placed between two hills. Also, standing at the tall are two people that seem to be looking at each other, we notice their long shadows before even noticing them. As a result of the composition, when viewing this piece for the first time, the visual path follows the gradient of the colours in the background all while moving from left to right. This painting contains movement that appears mainly in gradient due to the setting of the sun. Also, we can see the elephants attempting to move toward each other. Moreover, the two long legged elephants facing each other is a demonstration of the almost perfect symmetry Furthermore, the small hut-like structure located at the bottom center of the canvas defines a centered vertical line that balances the piece. Dalì’s painting, has contrast that can be broken down into two parts. Firstly, the top half of the painting has a red background that is contrasted against the two elephants, painted in tones of brown and grey. Secondly, in the bottom half of the canvas contains a gradient of orange to yellow that is contrasted alongside the brown hues of the mountainous landscape. In addition, the coulours used to create this piece consist of a bold and rich crimson red that slowly fades into a golden yellow. Those two colours are complimented by a variety of brown hues. As a result of the colours, the mood evoked by this piece is powerful and bold, yet somewhat romantic because of the crimson gradient. Also, there is a whimsical allure to the painting, because of the elephants that and the main subject matter. Since Salvador Dalì’s paintings often had reoccurring elements, such as these long legged elephants, he created an index that defined the symbolism behind them. That being said, the meaning of the elephants was revealed as having ‘‘skinny,fragile, long legs ,because they symbolize men shackled to the earth by gravity but always reaching for the higher. This is the reason why the legs get longer and longer but the feet stay attached to the ground.’’(1)
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Concluding Notes
Finally, this movement was a crucial part of the global art scene, because it led people to look within themselves and attempt to understand their subconscious mind. Surrealism was a movement that acted as a discussion platform by bringing forth taboo issues that were otherwise unspeakable. The father of Surrealism, Salvador Dalì, brought whimsy and creativity into the art world with the lack of direct observation. Surrealism today, is not as trendy in art but has been reinvented into the world of fashion.