“Figure at a Window” is a notable artwork by artist Salvador Dali, completed in the year 1925. This portrait is rendered in oil on canvas and is known for its realism, a movement which Dali engaged with prior to his well-known surrealist works. The artwork measures 102 by 75 centimeters and depicts a figure positioned before an open window.
In the artwork, the observer’s attention is immediately drawn to a female figure viewed from behind. She stands near an open window, gazing out at the tranquil sea. The seascape is calm, with a horizon that splits the view neatly between the expansive sky and the water below. A small sailboat is visible in the distance, accentuating the sense of quiet isolation within the scene. The careful rendering of light and shadow on her white dress creates a sense of three-dimensionality and texture, while the curtains and the clothing draped on the window add to the domestic feel of the scene. The room’s walls are rendered in neutral tones, which contrast with the blues of the sea and sky, highlighting the figure and directing the focus outward towards the view beyond the window. Dali’s precision in detail and the reflective mood he captures are characteristic of the period’s realistic style, before his full embrace of Surrealism.
