Maison pour érotomane c. 1932

Salvador Dalí made this painting, "Maison pour érotomane," using oil paint, a traditional material that allowed him to create intricate details. Dalí’s surreal landscapes are so compelling because of his meticulous technique. Notice the smooth gradations of color, and precise rendering of forms, which give the scene a feeling of hyper-reality. Dalí was interested in making the world of dreams tangible, drawing inspiration from psychoanalytic theory. And his method was an important part of this ambition. The amount of labor and intense focus required to produce a painting like this is a key part of its meaning. This wasn't just about depicting the imagery of dreams, but truly making dreams manifest through the skillful application of paint. With his highly refined painterly skills, Dalí blurs the lines between the real and the imagined, challenging our perception of what art can be.