Geopoliticus Child
Watching the Birth of the New Man
Watching the Birth of the New Man
Painted during his stay in the United States from 1940 - 1948, Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man initiates Dalí's classic period. The ideas for Dalí's classic works were derived from a variety of sources, including contemporary events, his Spanish heritage, and Catholic symbolism, replacing much of the personal symbolism of his surrealist period.
While working on this painting in 1943, the artist jotted down some notes. They read: "Parachute, paranaissance (sic), protection, cupola, placenta, Catholicism, egg, earthly distortion, biological ellipse. Geography changes its skin in historic germination."
Unlike the meanings of his surrealist paintings of the 1930s, this work's meaning is accessible because the surrealistic contradictions are absent. The Geopoliticus Child reflects the newfound importance America held for the expatriate Catalan artist. The man emerging from the egg is rising out of the "new" nation, America, which was in the process of becoming a new world power.
Africa and South America are both enlarged, representing the growing importance of the Third World, while Europe is being crushed by the man's hand, indicating its diminishing importance as an international power.
The draped cloth below [above?] the egg represents the placenta of the new nation. An androgynous figure points to the emerging man, acknowledging the importance of this new world power.
The cowering child at her feet represents the spirit of this new age, and the child casts the longer shadow indicating that he will replace the older age
While working on this painting in 1943, the artist jotted down some notes. They read: "Parachute, paranaissance (sic), protection, cupola, placenta, Catholicism, egg, earthly distortion, biological ellipse. Geography changes its skin in historic germination."
Unlike the meanings of his surrealist paintings of the 1930s, this work's meaning is accessible because the surrealistic contradictions are absent. The Geopoliticus Child reflects the newfound importance America held for the expatriate Catalan artist. The man emerging from the egg is rising out of the "new" nation, America, which was in the process of becoming a new world power.
Africa and South America are both enlarged, representing the growing importance of the Third World, while Europe is being crushed by the man's hand, indicating its diminishing importance as an international power.
The draped cloth below [above?] the egg represents the placenta of the new nation. An androgynous figure points to the emerging man, acknowledging the importance of this new world power.
The cowering child at her feet represents the spirit of this new age, and the child casts the longer shadow indicating that he will replace the older age
1 comment:
Hey, I'm wondering if you could help me cite Dali's notes about this painting. Do you know of a primary source?
Post a Comment