Salvador Dali Research Paper free essay sample

Lima Art 100 Professor: Plourde 9 April 2013, Spring Qtr 2013 5 Page Research Paper Salvador Dali Biography Salvador Dali was a pioneer. Few pages are not enough to tell the story of an eccentric, hardworking, disturbed and misunderstood master. Born in Figueras, Spain on May 11, 1904 near France into a middle class family. Childhood was turbulent, difficult, and abusive. Raised full of indulgences by his mother that resulted in the known eccentricities he had. (Dali, Secret Life, 115). Bright, extreme intelligent and fast learner child that created highly sophisticated drawings by age 6. In 1916 went to study drawing at College de Hermanos in Figueres, starting to show eccentric behavior for the first time. Later in Academia de San Fernando in Madrid he explored forms of art from Classical to Modernism and was deeply influenced by Dada, Metaphysics and Cubism movements influencing his work. In 1926 he met Picasso, Miro and other intellectuals in Paris jumpstarting his connection to Impressionism, Futurism, Cubism and ultimately Surrealism as a painting style. We will write a custom essay sample on Salvador Dali Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page (Dali, Secret Life, 205). Dali started surrealistic painting by creating small oil collages that he called â€Å"dream images†. Using a meticulous painting technique, he mixed strange hallucinatory elements with psychoanalytic context inspired by his early readings of Sigmund Freuds books. Dali took these theories so seriously that before and during painting sessions witnesses said, he will trance into a state of mental exercises â€Å"to access the subconscious and enhance his artistic creativity†. Between 1930’s to 1950’s Dali achieved most of his glory with exhibitions around the world, exhibiting his works and his flamboyant stylish personality. With illness and almost bankrupt, he retired in 1974 to create the Teatro Museo in Figueres, Spain. The theater was built from remains of a destroyed building, based in his design is considered the Worlds largest Surrealist structure today. By 1980, he could not hold a paint brush and after 9 years of depression and legal battles, on January 23, 1989, died at 84. Artwork 1 The Persistence of Memory Salvador Dali Called by Dali â€Å"hand-painted dream photographs†, (Dali, The Secret Life, 405). This piece was subject to numerous interpretations by historians, psychologists, scientists, and even singers like Marilyn Mason who used imaginative elements of his artwork to create music. We see clear and defined forms, strong and clean lines with blurred edges, balanced design using an asymmetric perspective that gives us a sense of three dimensional spaces. The perspective is built towards the horizon eye level, close to the base of the mountain in the background that gives an open space. Foreground and background are seemingly connected. Strong use of vivid color, strong contrast between dark and light and value seen in the use of the long shadows. Smooth chiaroscuro borrowed from the classical style adds a barely visible line between objects. Use of light and shadow dramatically gives the viewer a â€Å"shock effect† the first time. In later works the attack on Hiroshima in 1945 made a long and lasting impression on Dali as he began to include elements of â€Å"atomic demise† into his work. When receiving criticism on the psychological content he quoted: â€Å"There is only one difference between a madman and me. I am not mad. † Artwork 2: Soft construction with boiled beans Salvador Dali The Spanish Civil War 1936-39 led by Dictator Franco was a political event that deeply affected Salvador Dali. Soft Construction with Boiled Beans† piece was painted during this time. Oil on canvas, painted in 1936, color and form are dominant to achieve desperation that communicates the war message of destruction. Dali employs a â€Å"concrete irrationality† surrealist style giving us the illusion of realism. Design is precise, using symmetrical perspective employing a geometrical figure’s compos ition. The painting is well balanced. Presence of the light coming from the northeast gives a sense of a natural landscape. The light and shadow relationship â€Å"pops the elements out† and creates contrast. The pain of war is expressed by the grotesque mutating human body ripping itself apart with the anguishing facial expression. Artwork 3 Honey is Sweeter than Blood Salvador Dali Oil on wood panel, â€Å"Honey is Sweeter than Blood† was one of the first studies and attempts by Salvador Dali to move from Cubism to Surrealism. (Pixtot, A. â€Å"Presentation of the latest†, 1). The painting has a disturbing meaning of portraying the female body in a state of decay, connected to the present prostitution in Paris at the time. The symmetrical perspective is simple but effective, by using the naked female body as a center of focus. Color is on a high hue rich in blues and limited to a high contrast chiaroscuro skin tones over the background washed out skies. Psychological obsessions and struggle with preoccupations of decadence, death, sexual obscenities and immoralities were present in his works. Artwork 4: â€Å"The Temptation of St. Anthony†, 1946 The Temptation of St. Anthony Salvador Dali Illustrates clearly Dali’s reflection for religious feelings. Full of symbolism he captured the religious turmoil the European society was living at the time. The painting is based in the temptations Saint Anthony the Great during his pilgrimage to the desert. In Salvador Dali’s version, the hero walks through the desert to be confronted by a giant horse and five elephants. Form is used strikingly and colors are earthly and faded to create a depressive state of desperation towards the bottom of the painting but become crisp and bright towards the top, depicting strength. Perspective is asymmetric; by creating a focal point around the naked body of Saint Anthony that symbolizes temptation in a posture of submission. Finally the cross is used as a common symbol of Christianity. Benedict XVI, Pope. Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, 1) Works Cited: Dali, Salvador. â€Å"The Persistence of Memory†. 1931. Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation Museum, New York. Moma. org. Museum of Modern Art, 15 Sept. 2008. Dali, Salvador. â€Å"Soft Construction with Boiled Beans†. 1936. Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation Museum, New York. Moma. org. Muse um of Modern Art, 15 Sept. 2008. Dali, Salvador. â€Å"Honey is Sweeter than Blood†. 1926. Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation Museum, New York. Moma. org. Museum of Modern Art, 15 Sept. 2008. Dali, Salvador. â€Å"The Temptation of St. Anthony†. 926. Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation Museum, New York. Moma. org. Museum of Modern Art, 15 Sept. 2008. Dali, Salvador. The Secret Life of Salvador Dali: Autobiography. New York; New York: Random House Publishing, 1943. Pixtot, Antoni. â€Å"Presentation of the latest acquisition of Salvador Dali’s Work. Salvador-dali. org. Gala-Salvador Dali. Foundation, 15 Sept. 2008. http://www. salvador-dali. org Benedict XVI, Pope. Saint Athanasius of Alexandria. Vatican City. Vatican. va 14 April 2013. http://www. vatican. va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2007/documents/