For my first research book I read
Phaidon by Robert Radford. I started reading this book thinking that I knew
quite a bit about Salvador Dali, but I realized that his life was far more
complex than I ever thought. There are many unsolved mysteries about his early
life and decisions and events shaping his art style. There was much more to
Dali than anyone ever knew.
Salvador was born May 11, 1904 in
Figueres in Catalunya. Dali’s life was quite a mystery containing three
different stories of how his childhood was lived. The true story about pre-celebrity
Dali has never been confirmed. There is the version of his childhood coming
from various records, the impassioned version described by Dali, and the
perfect harmonious family portrayed by Dali’s sister. Dali created a mysterious
façade of himself as a painter and didn’t want anyone to know anymore than what
he showed.
His art was shaped through many
things throughout his life. His art style changed multiple times from things
like surrealism to earlier renaissance paintings. He had many mentors he met
along the way including poet Federico Garcia Lorca, film-maker Luis Bunuel, Joan
Miro, and Pablo Picasso. Dali wasn’t always the surrealism painter that we
think of. His moving to America and travel gave him different opinions and
insight therefore affected his outlook on things. The different people that Dali
met gave him different opinions on his artwork and what each piece meant to
him.
In doing my research, I learned thing
about Dali I never knew. I think that I want to try to narrow down my research paper
to what made him a surrealist painter and the events in his leading up to this
decision and the classic reasoning behind surrealism. I think the next book I read
will focus more on the type of art.
I think that it's very interesting that his childhood before his fame has three different stories. I also didn't know that he was friends with Pablo Picasso. It's interesting that other artists at the time helped influence his own art. True artists always have outside inspiration, whether it is from friends or nature. I am interested to learn more about the surrealism movement.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to think that such a popular and influential artist like Salvador Dali could have so little information about his life known.
ReplyDeleteWith his many different changes in artistic style, I wonder what kind of specific influences really changed his view in the art world.
It's good that you are narrowing down your research into a more specific topic.T his will make the information you convey more detailed in the area you've chosen to narrow down on and possibly create a stronger paper.
Its good to know that you are learning more about your topic. It is intresting how there are three stories about his childhood yet not one confirmed story, very intresting. I also intrested about how you listed the factors that influenced his art, I would never have guessed that even coming to america can affect his influence. I dont know too much about Dali, but I am glad that you are learning so much about him. Good luck on your next book.
ReplyDelete