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| The full title "One second before awakening from a dream caused by the flight of a bee around a pomegranate" explains how Dal was inspired by a dream that Gala reported to him. He saw the dream as an illustration of Freud's theory that dreams could be triggered by external stimuli. Gala, asleep and floating, feels the threat of the bee-sting, symbolised by the rifle with bayonet. The pomegranate, that probably attracted the bee, can be seen in the foreground and, in a huge version, on the left of the painting. It seems to be the source of the enormous fish with a snarling tiger leaping out of its mouth. In the background the elephant can be seen on long thin legs defying the laws of gravity, a recurring theme in Dal's works.ABOUT THE ARTWORK: The full title "One second before awakeningfrom a dream caused by the flight of a bee around a pomegranate"explains how Dali was inspired by a dream that Gala reported to him. Hesaw the dream as an illustration of Freud's theory that dreams could betriggered by external stimuli. ABOUT THE ART PERIOD: Dalisublimated his life in his art of painting. Relying on greatcraftsmanship, acquired in all sorts of art experiments, he liftedsurrealism, in an inimitable self-willed manner, to exceptionalheights. He photographed, as it were, associatively what was enacted inhis mind. Incited by, at the time, new psychological insights he triedto fix his subconscious with images, and to visualize his dreams in alltheir inscrutable symbolism. It was for this purpose that he developedhis famous "paranoid-critical" method. To us, one dimensional mortalsouls, only the paintings and other expressions remain as fascinatingwitnesses to a literally unbelievably intense and active life. Perhapswe are so drawn to them because not only do they allow us to have alook inside Dalis subconscious, but they also are a mirror reflectingour own souls. |
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