The Face Of War By Salvador Dali

Surrealism evolved in Paris in 1924 and became less popular in 1966. The movement began when a group of artists and writers wished to unlock the power of imagination. Surrealists felt that the mind repressed the power of imagination. Many Surrealist ideas helped shape the Abstract Expressionists which remain influential today. Artists such as Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, Alberto Giacometti, and Salvador Dali created works that were very popular during the Surrealist movement, and still are today (“Surrealism”). Many artists became famous for their art during this time period. Salvador Dali is among one of the most popular twentieth century artists who was associated with the Surrealist movement (“Salvador Dali Art”).
In Spain on May 11, 1904,
Salvador Dali was born to a thriving family. When Dali turned ten, he had his first drawing lesson. As he began to age, his love of Catalan culture grew, and he began to exhibit more Figueres backgrounds and scenes in his art. In 1921 Salvador Dali joined the Madrid School of Fine Arts. During the late 1920’s Dali became greatly influenced by Pablo Picasso and began to work his Cubist styles. Dali personally met Picasso in Paris in 1929. Dali also met many other famous artists in Paris, and soon moved there. Shortly after his move he was invited by Andre Breton to join the Surrealists, and for the next several years he created works that portrayed the physical state of paranoia and its importance (“Salvador Dali Art”). Deeply influenced by Renaissance painter, Raphael in 1930, Dali began to create more sophisticated and academic works which resulted in his expulsion from the Surrealist movement (“Salvador Dali Encyclopedia”).
Perhaps one of Dali’s most famous works of art is The Persistence of Memory created in 1931 (“Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dali y Domenech”). The inspiration for this famous work came to Dali when he fell asleep upon waiting for his wife to return home from the Cinema. Later when he woke up, he noticed that his wife had not yet returned home, and glanced at the clock feeling that time was “moving slowly”. Dali also noted that his wife had left some cheese on the counter which had begun to melt. From these two observations Dali came to the denouement that time was essentially doing the same thing as the cheese, in a way, time was melting as the cheese. This developed Dali’s idea to paint the melting clocks (“Persistence of Memory”).
The image The Persistence of Memory presents a deserted landscape representing the Catalan Coast (“Persistence of Memory”). Everything in this painting seems to have been created with extreme precision. In the bottom left hand corner of the painting sits a brown box or ledge. A bare tree grows out of this box, and a silver melting clock is draped over its one branch. Another melting clock dangles over the edge of this box, but this clock is gold. On this clock, a fly perches almost directly on top of the minute hand of the clock. Next to the clock lays an orange pocket watch lying on its face. This object looks very bizarre because one can hardly tell what it is without seeing the face of the watch. In the background of this portrait another box is perched, but this box is bare. This painting seems to be portrayed on a cliff because the horizon is painted as the sky with white and blue colors. The scenery resembling the Catalan Coast is made up of cliffs and rocky ledges. Smooth, dark brown dirt is arranged on the ground. In the middle of the creation a strange and nearly unidentifiable, white object is positioned with yet another silver melting clock draped over its side. Some people believe this object to be an onion skin or perhaps a horse skin, but I believe Dali meant for this portion of his art to be left a mystery and keep people wondering. Dali could have possibly felt this forced viewers to use their imagination to figure out what the object is.
Another masterpiece created by Salvador Dali is titled, the Face of War.
Dali painted this in 1940 during a difficult year due to World War II. This work was created to depict the frightening and the ugliness of war, which he represents through a screaming face made up of other screaming and horrified faces. Dali uses many dark colors to represent the misery caused by the war (“The Face of War”). When a viewer glances at this work, the first thing they will most likely notice is the enormous brown face in distress. The face is entangled in vines in the middle of what appears to be a desert. A screaming skull peers out of the mouth, which only possesses two scraggly teeth. In both eye sockets reside screaming skulls as well. I believe this painting portrays its meaning in a magnificent matter, showing viewers the misery felt by many due to the
war.
Perhaps one of my personal favorite paintings created by Salvador Dali is Christ of Saint John of the Cross. Created in 1950, Dali says he was inspired to create this work by a “cosmic dream” he had (“McDonald”). The most attention grabbing aspect of this picture is the enormous sight of Christ on the cross in the sky. Christ levitates in the air over an ocean and small people standing by the shore. The cross cuts into what looks to be the morning sky rising. I have much appreciation for this piece of art because it has been created so beautifully, and has a very interesting meaning for the inspiration.
The Burning Giraffe, created in 1937 before the exile in the United States, is yet another magnificent work created by Salvador Dali.
Behind this painting is a somewhat complicated, but rather interesting inspiration. Dali considered himself apolitical, but through this work shows his personal struggle with the war in his home country (“The Burning Giraffe (1937), Salvador Dali”). The scenery seems to resemble the Catalan Coast, as do many other paintings Dali has produced. At the top of the painting the sky is black. This could resemble a cloud of smoke tarnishing the beautiful blue sky. On the horizon sits a series of mountains. Near these mountains stands a giraffe, but this giraffe is on fire! A small person stands under the giraffe. In the front of the painting stands two women-like figures. These figures are very unusual, as they have no facial features or hair. The woman in the front of the painting looks as if she is dancing, while the second woman faces the giraffe standing straight. The second woman holds what appears to be a flame at eye level. Also, the woman has long, slender objects that look like lightning bolts shooting out of her skull. Awkward levers or sticks jut out from the backs of both women. The woman in the front of the portrait has open desk drawers falling from her body. Both women are clothed in tight blue dresses, and have brown
skin. I think Salvador Dali created many precious creations during his career as an artist. I personally have a lot of respect and appreciation for his creations. His unique style has inspired many aspiring artists. When he died his art certainly did not die with him. His art will continue to carry on his legend until the end of time.