The artwork entitled “Duck” was conceived by Salvador Dali in the year 1918. As an early work by Dali, it is attributed to the Realism art movement and categorized under the still life genre. Despite his later association with Surrealism, this piece reflects Dali’s exploration of traditional and realistic representation.
In the representation of “Duck,” the artwork bears testimony to a meticulously realistic style. The central subject, a duck, is rendered with pronounced attention to textural detail and natural coloring. It appears to be suspended or hung by its feet, which is a traditional method of preparing game birds. The background and surface upon which the duck rests are depicted with subdued hues, allowing the viewer’s focus to remain on the main subject. The portrayal of the duck communicates a tangible sense of weight and form, lending a solemn gravity to the still life composition. The shadows and highlights on the duck’s feathers produce a lifelike appearance, as do the nuances in its coloring from the dark tones of the head to the lighter shades of the body and wings. The painting exhibits Dali’s skillful handling of light and shadow and his capacity to capture the essence of the subject with a high degree of verisimilitude.
