Essay on a work of Art
Hist-010/006-1 Art History
The Profound effects of the mastermind, Salvador Dali
University of Winnipeg
April 01, 2010
Introduction:
R. C. Von Ripper wrote that, “Man’s impulse to elaborate and adorn goes far back into antiquity. Thousands of years before Christ, he began to create intricate ornaments and jewels which were both sacred and profane.” This bodes true to all of the wonderful impulses by Salvador Dali, more specifically the impulses in his creation of, The Birth of Liquid Desires. (Fig.1) This painting holds stunning imagery with a darkened twist and insight from the man shrouded in mystery, Salvador Dali. In looking at the imagery and powerful content of this picture, I will argue that The Birth of Liquid Desires can be attributed to one man’s sacred and profane impulses. Not only will that be delved into, but also the fact that this painting, like most of Dali’s, evokes a strong human response even in today’s day and age.
Historical Content:
Dali was born on May 11, 1904 in Spain. He grew up fond of art and eventually became enrolled in an art oriented school. This school would profoundly shape his artist career as he uncovered two events that would secure his unusual techniques and style. “His discovery of Sigmund Freud's writings on the erotic significance of subconscious imagery; and his affiliation with the Paris Surrealists, a group of artists and writers who sought to establish the ‘greater reality’ of man's subconscious over his reason.” This would later transfer over to his feelings portrayed in paintings and lead him towards his eventual style, surrealism.
Birth of Liquid Desires was created by Dali in 1931-1932 It consists of oil on canvas and is approximately 37 7/8 x 44 ¼ inches. It is held currently in the Guggenheim collection in Manhattan, New York. Dali painted this as result to a hallucinatory obsession, William Tell. William Tell is a play written by Friedrich Schiller in about 1803. It...