Retirado do Facebook | Mural de “Contemporary Art”

– Unlike many of Dalí’s more fantastical works, “The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus” directly engages with a historical theme. However, rather than simply depicting Columbus’ arrival, Dalí reinterprets the event through his surrealist perspective, adding layers of symbolism and dreamlike elements.

Dalí was known for his technical mastery, and in this work, he employs classical painting techniques alongside his surrealist style. The finely rendered details of the figures, objects, and landscapes are influenced by Renaissance painting, showing Dalí’s respect for classical art while recontextualizing it in a modern, surrealist framework. As with many of Dalí’s works, time plays an important role in this painting. The presence of liquid or flowing time may refer to Dalí’s ongoing fascination with the concept of time, a theme he explored extensively throughout his career.

The figure of femininity in the painting may also carry symbolic meaning, perhaps representing the new world or the mysterious forces at play in Columbus’ journey. The painting was commissioned for the Spanish Pavilion at the 1960 Brussels World’s Fair (Expo 58). It was part of an effort to showcase Spanish art and history on the international stage. Dalí’s work was controversial for its modern and surrealist approach to such an important historical event.

Dalí had a deep interest in historical themes, which can be seen in works like The Sacrament of the Last Supper and The Great Masturbator. In The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, Dalí turns to the theme of exploration and discovery, a key historical event that reshaped the world.