The artwork titled “Cavallo Metafisico,” was crafted by the renowned artist Salvador Dali in 1960. Employing oil on canvas as his medium, Dali infused the piece with the distinctive elements of Surrealism, a movement that sought to unlock the creative potential of the unconscious mind. The painting’s dimensions are relatively modest, measuring 38 by 25 centimeters, and it falls within the genre of symbolic painting, which is characterized by the use of symbols to convey a deeper, often obscure meaning.
“Cavallo Metafisico” depicts a peculiar and dream-like scene in which a skeletal figure rides an incomplete, skeletal horse. The horse itself stands on thin, elongated legs that end in high-heel shoes, rather than hooves, adding an unnatural and surreal appearance to the creature. Below the horse, scattered bones can be seen upon the ground, suggesting decay or disintegration.
The background is rendered in muted tones of violet and blue, possibly representing a barren landscape or a twilight sky. The horizon line is barely discernible, adding to the ethereal and otherworldly atmosphere characteristic of Dali’s work. The overall effect is one of a hauntingly still and timeless world, frozen in a moment that defies logical interpretation and invites the viewer to explore the subconscious symbolism at play.
