Essay/Term paper: Salvador dali

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Biography

Salvador Dali was born on May 11, 1904. He was a

leader in the new movement of art in the early 20th century

called Surrealism. In 1921 Dali studied at the San

Fernando Acadamy of Fine Arts in Madrid. Here he was

able to associate and learn from such Spanish modernists

as Fedrico Garcia Lorca, and Luis Bundel. He also was

influenced by Italian futurists and the metaphysical paintings

of Giorgio de Chirico. In his early works, however, Dali

gave credit to his own Catalan sense of fantasy and his

megalomania as being his true motivating forces. Dali left

the San Fernando Acadamy of Fine Arts in 1926, and

move to Paris where he frequented the Cafe Cyrano, which

was the ÒheadquartersÓ of the Parisan surrealists. In 1929

Cafe Cyrano featured an exhibit of DaliÕs own surrealist

paintings. Dali was also fascinated with the writings of

psychologist Sigmund Freud. He was so moved by

FruedÕs theory that he subsequently vowed to his lifeÕs

ambition to Òsystemize confusionÓ. Dali is best known for

his surrealist works. Surrealism is an art style in which

imagery is based on fantasy and the world of dreams. It is

thought have grown out of the French literary movement in

the 1920Õs and has itÕs roots in Dadaism. These painters

developed a dreamlike, or hallucinatory, imagery that was

all the more startling for its highly realistic rendering. Some

of DaliÕs better known paintings are: ÒPersistence Of

MemoryÓ also know popularly as ÒSoft WatchesÓ

(1931), and ÒThe Sacrament Of The Last SupperÓ

(1955). These Paintings have become part of the definitive

record of 20th Century art. Dali used many mediums to

illustrate his inspirations. His most popular of course are his

paintings, but he also used such media as jewelry,

advertisements, beer-bottle designs, ballet sets, and

costumes. Dali also experimented his talents in film as well.

In 1928 he and childhood mentor Luis Bundel produced

the famous surrealist film ÒUn Chein AndalouÓ (An

Andalusian Dog). He and Bundel teamed up once again in

1931 for ÒLÕAge dÕorÓ (The Age Of Gold). Dali was

easily recognized all over the world. He was know for

eccentric yet styleish apparel always accompanied by a

flowing cape, and a handlebar mustache, and popping

eyes. Salvador Dali lead a long life in which he influenced

people everywhere he went. In 1989 Dali died at age 86, a

tremendous loss for the art community.