Si mostrano trenta e piu smisurati giganti, con i quali ho intenzione di azzuffarmi… 1962

This is Dali’s black ink and watercolor piece from 1962; a really striking image when you first see it. The process here feels free, like Dali’s mind just wandering onto the page and taking shape as he goes. The ink is deep and pools in some areas, especially in the central head, while the watercolor washes are soft and dreamy. Those ochre-yellow ears look like giant fluttering butterflies perched on either side of the head. Notice the teeth in the image’s center—they’re almost playful, like a little kid’s drawing, but with a slightly sinister edge. This piece reminds me of Goya’s dark, fantastical prints. Both artists have a similar ability to make the unreal feel so incredibly vivid and alive, but with Dali, there is a sense of humor in the process, a lightness that cuts through some of the darker imagery. Dali understood that art doesn't always have to make sense; sometimes it’s just about embracing the weird.