This series will list some of my favorite paintings by my favorite artists and attempt to explain why.
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| The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus |
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As one of the originators of Surrealism, it took a while for Dalí to hit his stride. Early in his career, he had a tough time with the 'realism' part of proposition. But by 1959, when he created this masterpiece, the realistic aspects of his work were breathtaking. This gave his work the power he was looking for. Gala on the standard; Columbus himself; the standard-bearer to his left - gorgeous in their execution. And Dalí is very generous with the depth of symbolism in this painting. Unlike, say, "The Persistence of Memory" which is more of a one-message work, this painting has layers upon layers creating a wonderful puzzle for the viewer. A bonus: this painting is huge. It measures 14 feet tall by 9 feet wide!
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| The Burning Giraffe |
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I can't say that I love this painting in the sense that I love a beautiful painting by John Singer Sargent or Vincent Van Gogh. I love this painting, however, because it is so Dalí. Humor is a key factor in understanding both the man and his work. You have these hideous women with drawers in their legs, weird outgrowths on their backs, veins exposed, strange posture ... and in the background, a little giraffe. And Dalí names this "The Burning Giraffe", with absolutely no consideration for the main subjects of the painting. Hilarious and ridiculous (like a crazy handlebar mustache.)
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| Tuna Fishing |
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The painting is awesome on many levels. First of all, it was created in 1967...late in Dali's career. But it has a vitality and energy that is palpable. Combining multiple-layered scenes, multiple styles, conflicting and complimentary imagery...it perfectly captures the insane frenzy of literal tuna fishing. At the same time it says something about the struggles of life itself.
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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a world traveler, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.
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