Osborn Hill School -- Art Smart
Painting: Apparition of Face and Fruit Dish on Beach
Artist: Salvador Dali
Year created: 1938
Artistic Movement: Surrealism
Details: Oil on canvas, 45 x 57 inches, current on view at The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of
Art in Hartford, CT
Who was Salvador Dali?
Salvador Dali was a very famous Spanish artist known for his “Surrealist” paintings and
sculptures. Born in 1904 in Spain, he was named after his older brother who died just before he
was born. As a result, Salvador’s parents were very protective of him. Salvador grew up feeling
very confused about his brother and his own life, which caused strange dreams and fears. He
was afraid of grasshoppers and ants! He also had big plans – as a child, he wanted to be a cook,
and then decided he wanted to be Napoleon, the famous French ruler. He loved doing crazy
things to get attention as a kid, and even as an adult. Once, he arrived at an event in a
convertible filled with cauliflower and another time, he gave a speech dressed in a deep sea
diving suit! He said he received messages from outer space through his moustache, which acted
as an antenna!
Dali had a long career and was very popular throughout the world, but was especially loved in
the United States. He died at the age of 85 in 1989 in his native country, Spain.
What is Surrealism?
Surrealism is a style of modern art featuring unconventional images, typically based on fantasy
or dreams. It was most popular in the 1920s to 1940s, but some artists still use this style today.
Surrealism actually began as a literary movement, started by a French poet, Andre Breton.
Breton, and artists such as Dali, were fascinated by the studies by Dr. Sigmund Freud, who
believed that dreams were an important way of understanding one’s experiences, problems,
and overall personality.
As an art movement, Surrealism is known for bizarre images, pairing objects that normally
would not go together, such as a fried egg sliding down a desert mountain, or watches melting.
The artists believed these strange pictures illustrated feelings they could not express through
words. In fact, these sometimes crazy-looking paintings were the results of spontaneous
reactions to an artist’s feelings or reactions to a current event or personal experience.
During the height of Surrealism, many enormous events were happening in the world. Both
World Wars took place, which was a frightening and violent experience for many people. New
technology was also changing the world – the use of everything from electric lights, to
telephones, to the tragic use of the atom bomb affected the way artists thought and created.
In past artistic movements, paintings were typically a realistic copy of a person, object or scene.
It wasn’t until the 20th Century that artists began to experiment with more creative versions of
what they saw and felt.
Other famous Surrealists are: Rene Magritte, Max Ernst, and Joan Miro.
Apparation of Face and Fruit on a Beach
This painting is a classic example of Dali’s work – even the title is unusual! Upon first look, the
painting looks like a bowl of fruit, but with closer examination, there are many images blended
together. One of Dali’s talents was to paint double images. For example, the fruit bowl and fruit
are also a face. (Point out the various parts of the bowl and where the facial features are). In
the background, there are many images that have two identities. Along the top of the painting,
the water and mountain top are also a picture of a dog with a collar! Is it possible that Dali was
the inventor of I Spy? (hahaha!). I Spy is a great game to play with Dali’s paintings!
Dali uses the different segments of the painting – the foreground, middle ground, and
background – in a unique way. The beach in the foreground doubles as a tablecloth, and the
“eyes” of the face created by the fruit bowl are given depth from their position in the
background.
Although this painting represents the Surrealist style, Salvador Dali was no longer considered a
Surrealist when he painted this work. Surrealism’s founder, the poet, Andre Breton, felt Dali
was too focused on fame and making money, and should not be part of the artistic group.
Despite the criticism he received for his outrageous art and public spectacles, Dali continued to
produce paintings, sculpture, jewelry, film, and everyday items for the rest of his life.