The artwork titled “Ex Aegypto vocavi filium meum,” created by Salvador Dali in 1964, belongs to the art movements of Abstract Expressionism and Symbolism and is categorized as a religious painting. This piece is part of “The Biblia Sacra” series, a collection of works produced by Dali inspired by the Bible. The given artwork stands as a testament to Dali’s versatility and his ability to infuse religious narratives with his distinctive artistic style.
In the artwork, Dali employs abstract forms and dynamic brushstrokes to evoke a sense of movement and emotion. The central composition depicts what appears to be a small, sparsely detailed group of figures: one riding a horse and two others possibly traveling on foot. These figures are likely to represent the biblical flight of the Holy Family—Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus—escaping to Egypt, as the title suggests (the title translates to “Out of Egypt, I called my son”).
The background is minimalistic, hinting at a desert or an undefined, open landscape, which is consistent with the story’s setting. The foreground is dominated by expansive, expressive black marks, which might symbolize the turmoil and urgency of their flight. Splatters and drips of paint add to the chaos and immediacy of the scene, which is typical of Abstract Expressionist techniques. Meanwhile, the symbolic elements emerge from the raw expressiveness of the paint, inviting the viewer to interpret religious significance through the lens of abstraction.
