Surrealism, a trend that began in the 1920s, was initiated by the Dada movement that came to life in Paris during War World I. Inspired by visual art and writings, Surrealism was a cultural movement that incorporated schools of thought on politics, philosophy and social theory. Salvador Dali was a colorful surrealist who made significant artistic contributions to the movement.

Self-Portrait with Fried Bacon

An ode to Dali’s “soul’s glove”, not the soul or the inner self, this self-portrait portrays his face with ants and fried bacon. It was a work painted during Dali’s eight-year-exile in the United States He left his home in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. During this time he painted from the inside out, and it appeared that he did a reversal on his “paranoid-critical method.” This painting symbolizes the Surrealist giving himself up as nourishment for the soul, and giving the era the most “delicious delicacies.”

Geopolitical Child Watches Birth of New Human

Depicting a fiery earth, a new human is born and is emerging from a plastic egg while a child looks on hoping for the comfort of its mother; it symbolizes new order, a fresh start and a perfect world.

Portrait of Picasso

Dali incorporated many elements that spoke to the origins of Picasso. In this painting, the bust of Picasso is mounted atop a pedestal, symbolizing consecration. A heavy rock sits on Picasso’s head to symbolize the impact and influence of his art. Picasso’s face is depicted as a goat hoof and the headdress of the Greco-Iberian marble bust the Lady of Elche paying tribute to Picasso’s origins.

Dream Caused Flight of a Bee

This painting depicts Dali’s wife, Gala unclothed and asleep. With long and thin legs, an elephant walks across the a watery horizon carrying an obelisk. Near Gala, two drops of water and a small pomegranate are supsended in the air. Above a larger pomegranate, emerges a fish that spits out a tiger from which another tiger comes out. In front of the second tiger, a rifle’s bayonet touches the women’s right arm. It is a painting that shows the influence of Sigmund Freud’s theories on the meanings of dreams and has also been suggested as an interpretation of the Theory of Evolution.

Poetry of America Cosmic Athletes

Asking mankind to think about the dangers of conflicts within the modern world, this painting symbolizes the new human with a golden man balancing an egg on his finger. The juxtaposition of the commonplace and fantastic again emphasizes Dali’s paranoid-critical method, a subconscious association of those things that are unrelated in conscious existence.

Burning Giraffe Woman with Drawers

This painting speaks to Dali’s internal conflict with his country during his exile from Spain amidst the Spanish Civil War. Open drawers line the leg of a gaunt blue female form with extended arms, believed to represent the “open drawers” of man’s subconscious.

Temptation of Saint Anthony

A work from the latter period of his life, Dali made claims that he had converted to mysticism. The Atomic era influenced his thinking and is manifested in this painting. A depiction of a naked Antonius stands against a charging horse with elongated legs that defy the law of gravity. Saint Anthony attempts to steel himself against earthy temptations. Floating elephants move towards the saint symbolizing lust and greed.

For a vision of Dali’s work in 3D, check out the Parastone Mouseion Collection which perfectly captures the artist work as Salvador Dali Statues. Rob Mabry is a writer and owner of Your Museum Store.

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