Allégorie de l’âme 1951

Salvador Dalí made this drawing, titled "Allégorie de l’âme," with graphite, colored pencil, and gouache. The juxtaposition of these materials is important to consider. Graphite and colored pencil are traditional art materials that allow for very fine detail. Gouache is interesting in that it is opaque, and the color is suspended in the medium, often gum arabic, making the pigment appear very intense. It's quite a direct way to apply color. Here, the materials are employed to create an uncanny effect. The artist has rendered the statue-like figure with extreme refinement, almost as if it were an object coming off a production line. The butterfly is beautifully rendered, and the caterpillar emerging from the figure's ear is a jarring surprise. Note the cracks in the head which evoke a sense of instability. Dalí encourages us to consider the symbolic associations and the cultural significance of the work, challenging traditional distinctions between the fine arts and the more grounded realm of craft and design.