The artwork entitled “Babaouo – Publicity Announcement for the Publication of the Scenario of the Film” was created by Salvador Dali in 1932. It is part of the Dada and Surrealism art movements and serves as a poster for the promotion of a film scenario. Dada and Surrealism were influential art movements that emerged in the early 20th century, challenging traditional aesthetics and embracing the irrational and dream-like.
In the artwork, one observes a composition that is distinctly Surrealist, featuring a jarring assemblage of text and imagery. The text “Babaouo” is prominently displayed in bold characters at the top, with the phrase “C’est un film” just below, indicating that the subject matter pertains to a film. The phrase “Surrealiste” spans across the poster, reaffirming the association with the Surrealist movement.
The visual elements are a montage of various photographs and hand-drawn elements. Notably, there is the photograph of a person’s face, occupying a significant portion of the left side of the artwork, establishing a focal point. Additional figures and objects are scattered throughout, including a woman’s figure centrally positioned, who appears to be engaged in a dramatic gesture or dance, enhancing the dream-like and poetic quality characteristic of Dali’s work.
The overall composition is visually striking, with strong contrasts between the dark background and the lighter elements. Salvador Dali’s penchant for juxtaposing disparate images to provoke thought and evoke the unconscious is evident within this piece, encapsulating the unconventional and revolutionary spirit of Surrealism.
