The artwork titled “A Soft Watch Put in the Appropriate Place to Cause a Young Ephebe to Die and Be Resuscitated by Excess of Satisfaction (unfinished)” is an enigmatic creation by Salvador Dali, completed in 1979. As part of the symbolic painting genre, this piece is noted for its alignment with the Neoclassicism art movement, diverging from Dali’s usual association with Surrealism. Dali’s explorations into Neoclassicism during this period were marked by a return to order and traditional techniques, yet his unique approach ensured the inclusion of dreamlike and fantastical elements.
The artwork presents a disconcerting blend of bodily forms and incongruent elements. A central figure, a nude young ephebe, is laid out with an exaggerated sense of relaxation or effacement, the body curved in a manner that conveys both languor and elasticity. Atop the figure, what appears to be reminiscent of Dali’s iconic soft watch is positioned in an intimate and perhaps intrusive manner. The watch itself is a recurrent motif in Dali’s oeuvre, symbolizing the fluidity and malleability of time.
To the left, another figure hovers with a swollen, almost grotesque form. This figure seems to be part of the landscape, spanning from the ground into the sky, sharing consistency with the atmospheric colors that dominate the background. The sky is blemished by strokes of warm tones that pierce through the predominant cool blue.
What remains evident is that Dali’s choice of neoclassical style here does not forsake his penchant for imagery that provokes and disrupts the viewer’s subconscious. Rather than delivering a coherent narrative, the artwork suggests a symbolic and deeply personal tableau which invites interpretation while defying definitive explanation.
