This work of surrealistic art showcases a geometric figure with a tumescent red hand protruding from its head. The figure is composed of cones and triangles. Surrounding the structure are ghostly images of nude female figures and torsos superimposed on a blue, watery dreamscape. This piece was done upon Dalí's return from 9 months of military duty. It was during his military career that Dalí began experimenting with new subjects for his work. The Apparatus in the title refers to the geometric figure which is structured much like the human form. The figure has analogues of human arms, legs, an eye, and a head. The triangular being is propped up on what appears to be a cane, which was a leitmotif in Dalí's work representing the fragility of sleep.[2][3]
The hand atop the figure's head is a reference to Onanism, which was a common theme in his work at the time. This period of Dalí's career is referred to as the Freudian Period. Dali had a great interest in the ideas of Sigmund Freud, and read his books including The Psychopathology of Everyday Life, and The Interpretation of Dreams, which had recently been published. This painting with its dream-like symbols, shows the influence. Dali would join the surrealists in 1929, and this pre-surrealist painting shows the influence that group, who also were inspired by Freud. [4][5] This was during the Avant-Garde movement which was heavily weighted on the writings of Freud.[6] The female images surrounding the geometric figure are representative of thoughts within the mind of the Apparatus. These images represent the delirious erotic thought processes of the artist, which was also a prevailing theme of his work.[7]
To the left of the geometric man is an image of a donkey on its hind legs. The donkey is being consumed by a horde of flies which are attacking its belly. This is indicative of the decomposition of the creature. On the right of the structure is a classically posed female, which is set in contrast to the geometric simplicity of the center image.[8]
^Greeley, Robin Adèle (2006). Surrealism and the Spanish Civil War (1 ed.). New Haven, Conn.: Yale Univ. Press. ISBN978-0-300-11295-5. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
March 04, 2024
apparatus, hand, 1927, painting, salvador, dalí, painting, currently, resides, salvador, dalí, museum, petersburg, florida, this, work, loan, from, collection, reynolds, morse, artistsalvador, dalíyear1927mediumoil, paneldimensions62, locationsalvador, dalí, m. Apparatus and Hand is a 1927 oil painting by Salvador Dali The painting currently resides at the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg Florida This work is on loan from the collection of Mr and Mrs A Reynolds Morse 1 Apparatus and HandArtistSalvador DaliYear1927Mediumoil on panelDimensions62 cm 47 5 cm 24 in 18 7 in LocationSalvador Dali Museum St Petersburg FloridaDescription editThis work of surrealistic art showcases a geometric figure with a tumescent red hand protruding from its head The figure is composed of cones and triangles Surrounding the structure are ghostly images of nude female figures and torsos superimposed on a blue watery dreamscape This piece was done upon Dali s return from 9 months of military duty It was during his military career that Dali began experimenting with new subjects for his work The Apparatus in the title refers to the geometric figure which is structured much like the human form The figure has analogues of human arms legs an eye and a head The triangular being is propped up on what appears to be a cane which was a leitmotif in Dali s work representing the fragility of sleep 2 3 The hand atop the figure s head is a reference to Onanism which was a common theme in his work at the time This period of Dali s career is referred to as the Freudian Period Dali had a great interest in the ideas of Sigmund Freud and read his books including The Psychopathology of Everyday Life and The Interpretation of Dreams which had recently been published This painting with its dream like symbols shows the influence Dali would join the surrealists in 1929 and this pre surrealist painting shows the influence that group who also were inspired by Freud 4 5 This was during the Avant Garde movement which was heavily weighted on the writings of Freud 6 The female images surrounding the geometric figure are representative of thoughts within the mind of the Apparatus These images represent the delirious erotic thought processes of the artist which was also a prevailing theme of his work 7 To the left of the geometric man is an image of a donkey on its hind legs The donkey is being consumed by a horde of flies which are attacking its belly This is indicative of the decomposition of the creature On the right of the structure is a classically posed female which is set in contrast to the geometric simplicity of the center image 8 See also editSurrealism List of works by Salvador Dali Museum of Modern ArtReferences edit Permanent Collection Salvador Dali Museum Retrieved 2023 08 29 1 Online archive dalipaintings com 2 Online archive of The Dali Museum St Petersburg FL 3 Online archive of The Dali Museum St Petersburg FL 4 Online archive dalipaintings com Current Exhibits Salvador Dali Museum St Petersburg Florida Archived from the original on 2009 09 06 Retrieved 2009 09 17 Moorhouse Paul Dali Salvador eds 1998 Dali Nachdr ed San Diego Calif Thunder Bay Press ISBN 978 0 7924 5326 0 Moorhouse Paul Dali PRC Publishing 1990 Greeley Robin Adele 2006 Surrealism and the Spanish Civil War 1 ed New Haven Conn Yale Univ Press ISBN 978 0 300 11295 5 Retrieved 2023 08 29 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Apparatus and Hand amp oldid 1194800934, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
