Give this image a name. What do you see?
What do the details imply?
What meaning can be drawn from this image?
You can bring in background of the artist/time period in discussion of this image. You can however just work in the details that are here (which is why I don't want to influence your direction by positing the name of the artwork).
Strive for meaning that is not obvious. If you are working with details of the artist or artwork, don't stop with a conclusion that merely restates what has been said before. Try to reposition the conclusion by building off, critiquing, or using some other strategy to engage perspective.
Originality in thought is key. If you just so happen to reach the same conclusion that others have, fine. But if you realize that others would probably draw the same conclusion, think about what you can do to make yours different.
Alexander Herlihy_Homework#4_Blog#3_Salvador Dali Response
ReplyDeleteI would give this Image the name “The Beginning of the End”. I decided to use this title because of the many conclusions that I found from the symbolism and many details from this painting. But first it is important to describe the most obvious figures from the painting. There is an egg shaped earth with a thin adult man trying to break free from with in. There is a levitating veil and another one that the Earth is lying on. There is an old thin woman that is pointing at the man breaking through, with her child at her legs. In the distance there is a red figure in looking at this cracking world. The sky appears to be a dawn-like color, which an obelisk structure in the background. The geography appears to be in a vast uninhabited plain, with rock formations in the distance. There is also blood oozing from the crack in the egg shaped globe. There is also another skeletal women in the background.
It is important to analyze the details so to identify the principles used to generate symbolize to support the theme in this piece. On the globe, the man is cracking the earth violently, which can be seen by looking at the tense muscles, arms and legs movements of reaching out. The fact that the man is breaking out of the part where the US is on the globe helps support the claim that this man represents America’s upbringing. The blood that is dripping also adds to the fact that as America is rising there is a struggle or sacrifice. This coincides with the idea of America rising from the powers during World War 2 because this painting was created in the 1940s. With America’s hand on Europe, it symbolizes its intention in saving it from the evils of fascist states, while the man’s head, leg and body face the Pacific where the US is currently fighting against the Japanese. But this sense of security and justice by the US clashes with the fact the world is being destroyed during the process. This is because the artist is trying to portray a premonition of the US becoming too powerful and eventually destroying itself. The reason for why the artist believes that the US would destroy itself is because of theme of absolute power corrupting absolutely. The artist is claiming that the US will in the near future become just as dictatorial and as dangerous as the powers they are fight in World War 2. Since the veil is levitating over the world, it appears that this event is beginning and being presented to this skeletal woman. This woman represents hate, discord, chaos, revenge, corruption, pride and negativity inside the people of the world. She was drawn attention to the man because the man, who represents the United States, performed all of her representations. The child, having similar representation as the mother, is frightened by the man’s penetration because he is amateur and is shocked by the unexpected high level of negativity, from the world. This shows that Mother Nature did not expect this US expansion event. The presence of the two veils, one above the egg and one underneath, and the egg shape of the earth, symbolizes that the earth was brought to this hellish atmosphere, like a stork bringing a baby to its mother. All of this was done intentionally to show that as man destroys the world from within, their world would become as morbid and depressing as the atmosphere is. The woman also seems to be waiting for the man to break free from the world. This suggests that the man, who represents man’s more negative sides, breaks free from the world he will belong in the chaotic atmosphere and live along with the skeletal woman. The building in the background, which symbolizes civilization, indicates that hate, revenge, pride, selfishness and evilness live in this eerie setting. Which is why there is another similar female skeletal figure in the distant background.
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ReplyDeleteSindi Haxhia_Salvador Dali_Blog#3
ReplyDeleteEve and Adam
Looking at the top corners it seems like a dessert type area where perhaps even a sandstorm is coming. I get this impression due to the deep brown edges and it opens up to the rest of the painting in a grainy way.Almost symmetrically to the right and left of the middle of the painting there seems to be pyramid figures. In the center, the man and woman seem to be in a power struggle. The man is trying to fight out of the shell but the woman is just watching and authoritatively pointing at the man.
The painting seems almost the opposite of Adam and Eve, except this time Eve won. The back ground had also changed to the dessert,dry land from being the lush,plentiful garden Adam and Eve are originally in. This could indicate what a world would look like with a heavy matriarchal presence over a patriarchal presence. Having said that, Eve is also depicted having a very muscular body, almost male looking. Even though Adam's body can not clearly be seen in this painting, it does not look as muscular as Eve's body. This detail adds to my indication earlier about the artist trying to depict a matriarchal society over a patriarchal society. Finally, I would like to mention that the red drop that is connected to the crack on the egg resembles a snake figure. In Adam and Eve there was also a snake and he was the one tempting Adam and Eve. In this painting Adam was tempted instead of Eve leaving his shell to crack.
I agree at how u described the background. I too see it as s dessert area. The ground looks very sandy to me. I think maybe this signifies some kind of barren place that possibly Adam and Eve were sent to as punishment.
DeleteAfter reading your explanation of the details in the painting I can really see connection you made between Adam and Eve and this painting. I like how you proved this to be the opposite of the image we think of when we hear the phrase "Adam and Eve". I also thought your title for this painting was strong as well as clear and straightforward.
DeleteCaleb Konrad_Salvador Dali_Blog#3
ReplyDeleteIn this painting by Salvador Dali, My eye immediately looks at the earth in the center part of the picture. I notice the man who appears to be breaking free from the world. The reason why I think he is breaking free is because it looks like he was running from something. I think the woman on the right side has already been through this and is trying to teach her kid about it. I notice the overall mood of the background is very dark and almost evil looking. There is absolutely no green vegetation that I see; it is all just dead and barren. The sky is also very gray. Whatever these people are entering into from the earth is clearly not a happy place.
On one side of the world I see a very dark black shadow. I think this signifies the horrors of whatever this man is running from. Maybe evil is trying to take over the earth. On the other side, I see a glowing yellow that appears to be splitting the gray sky. Maybe this is the hope and happiness still left that is radiating from the earth. Maybe there is a battle going on between good and evil. It almost seems like the cloth that the earth is sitting on once covered the earth. Whatever broke it off somehow must have harmed it. To me it looks like a slash with blood coming out of the earth. It appears to be only a single drop of blood though which to me means it must have not been a very deep cut. Maybe whatever is trying to harm the earth is only just beginning what it is capable of.
Baldwin Giron_Homework#4_Salvador Dali Response_Blog#3
ReplyDelete"A World Unknown"
In this image I see a what could possibly be an egg with marks resembling multiple continents. This egg shaped world has a man that appears to be struggling out of this egg, but his foot is in place where the United States should be. Looking around the image, I notice this man is the only light skinned person in the whole image. This makes me think that the painting might be focused around racial differences, since the only other people I see in the painting have much darker skin color (the woman, the child, and the two figures in the background). The world around shown in this painting seems to be very desolated and lacking in resources (also expressed in how malnourished the woman on the right side of the painting looks), yet the man in egg looks healthy and fit emerging from this planet-like egg. The drop is blood makes me think of some sort of sacrifice of suffering. Often times an egg is thought to be delicate and in need of some form of protection, and I think that what might possibly be sheets were doing just that. When I look at the sky, it reminds me of what paper might look like after it was caught on fire, giving me the impression that this is some kind of hell like world.
It could be possible that the two sheets were at one point covering the egg, shielding it from this harsh world we see around it and pulling apart when it could no longer protect the egg (the sheets look old and tarnished). The world shown on the egg seems as though it is melting and falling apart, making me think the world is suffering. I think the man coming out of the egg could represent either the United States or Europe, but since the U.S. is not on the egg, I feel like the man might symbolize the U.S. coming into this barren world. An egg often represents well being since it protects the creature inside as well as providing nourishment for it. This, along with the drop of blood (which might symbolize suffering), makes me think the U.S. has experienced some devastating event and has joined the rest of a suffering world, no longer in the confines of this egg shielding it from the pain and suffering. The woman pointing to the man in the egg, with her curiously looking child, makes me think they are thinking something along the lines of "look, they finally understand what we've being going through". I think this painting might represent the U.S. going into the great depression after it had experienced the roaring twenties, a time where there were many celebrations, mostly from the fact that they got through WWI without suffering consequences like those of countries that were more deeply involved in the war.
I think you bring up a point with the woman looking malnourished, I did not see it that way. I saw her as being more masculine in fact. I also agree with the WWI connection you made. This connected the globe shape in the painting to a historical point in history. You really took the time to cover many different aspects and symbols of the painting.
DeleteCollegeNow-RachelLehmann-Assignment3, Salvador Dali
ReplyDeleteBehold a hellish landscape, an ugly woman and child anticipating a new arrival. These skeletal figures await the appearance of a human male – clambering out of an egg. Hatching from planet earth, as if that were the place of his incubation and maturation, preparing him, ultimately, for a birth into death. Here is painted the paradox of an egg, so often representing new life, carrying over mortals into an eternity in death.
The scene, void of all life, glazed in a poisonous yellow aura, and decorated only with foreboding cliffs and an ominous fortress in the background, paints a disturbing picture of hades. And having lost all their human beauty and grace, both the woman and child blend effortlessly with their hideous surroundings. Surroundings that are, literally, larger than life. As the man emerges, he has grown to fit with the massive scale – a size that he will be for the rest of eternity. For here, death altogether eclipses life in its size, as if mocking the futility of living. Merely the hand of the man can grab Europe, and his torso covers all of North America. Breath will only remain for a number of years, but this large reality is forever.
An unwrinkled and muscular frame suggests that the man is still in his prime, perhaps greeting death prematurely. But the old woman and babe still stand there expecting him, showing that age can escape mortality. Both the woman and child’s foulness, and the man’s nakedness, foreshadow that his worldly graces and features will quickly fade in this land.
Rachel, you really took your time to absorb the painting and all of it's details. I think you describe what you see in a story like way that captures a readers attention. Overall, great job!
DeleteChelsea Perez_Salvador Dali Response_Blog#3
ReplyDelete"The Birth of New Man"
When I look at this image I see an egg shaped object placed in the middle. It has what appears to be continents on it. I only see South America, Africa and Europe. It is confusing that North America is not on the egg because it is such an important place to the world and it does exist. The egg or globe has a long crack going down the center and protruding from the large crack is a man. This man seems to be struggling to get out of the egg because his arm is extended out and his fingers are making imprints in the egg. Also his leg, head and knee seem to be stretching out from within the egg. The egg is different from regular eggs because while it does have a crack, the other parts seem to be more elastic than what a normal egg is. I see a woman standing to the right of the image pointing at the man emerging from the egg. She has a child at her feet and seems to be trying to show him this man but the child is scared or nervous because it is standing slightly behind the woman holding onto her leg. There seems to be blood coming from the crack in the egg and it has oozed onto a white sheet that is laying underneath the egg. The sky is a golden color which reminds me of the sunrise and makes me think of new days or new beginnings like a birth. The woman and child outside the egg seem to be weak and frail but the man coming out of the egg seems healthy. He has a muscular arm and torso which could symbolize he has great power or strength. I think the thing above the egg was once covering the egg for protection and it has been ripped off. The object above the egg has uneven ends which make me think it was ripped or torn.
I think that the egg in this image is the world or the globe because it has the continents on it. The continent that we can not see but should be able to is North America. The man that is coming out of the egg is where North America should be. I think this means that he represents North America or the United States. America has been an important nation throughout history and it has left big impacts the world in both good and bad ways. The image shows the good by showing us that it gave birth to this strong, powerful man in a world that needed help because it shows the starving child and woman. Also the sun seems to be rising or coming out as the egg hatches, there is more gold color in the image above and to the left of the egg. Also the man coming out of the egg is bright unlike the dark color of the woman and child. It also shows the bad affects of America because since America is such a powerful country it has damaged the world just like this man is damaging the egg by hatching out of it. Also we see that the earth/egg is bleeding so the earth or world is being damaged by this nation/man being born. I think that the struggle the man is having hatching out of the egg represents the struggle it was for America to be formed but once it was it left marks on the world like no other nation. When something hatches out of an egg that is usually the most important thing. The life that hatches is kept and the shell is discarded. This makes me think of out America thinks it is the most important place and the most important country because the man that is North America is coming out of the egg and the other countries and continents are on the shell that will be discarded. This also makes me think about how America tries to stay out of affairs of other countries but ends up still impacting the outside world significantly.