La Victoire 1967

Salvador Dalí made this watercolour, La Victoire, at an unknown date, using washes of colour and expressive line. I love how Dalí lets the watercolour bleed and flow, embracing chance and fluidity. The flags at the top are rendered with such loose marks that they evoke a feeling, more than an object. Look at the lower section of the image, where the pools of black and red paint create a sense of depth and chaos. The thin washes and delicate lines of the crowd contrast with the solid black marks on the right. The black almost seems to push the lighter tones back, creating a push-pull effect, which for me, is what painting is all about. In a similar way to Goya, Dalí shows us the horrors of conflict, without glorifying them. It reminds me that art is a powerful tool for engaging with complex emotions, using ambiguity as a strength.