The artwork “Figures Lying on the Sand” was created by Salvador Dali in 1926. This work, executed in oil on wood, measures 20.7 by 27.3 centimeters and can be classified under the genres of Cubism and Expressionism. It is a genre painting currently housed at the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States.
The artwork presents a coastal scene where human forms are depicted in a fragmented and abstracted manner, capturing the essence of Cubism with its multi-perspective approach. The figures are placed against a barren landscape containing elements of the seaside such as sand and sea, which are also rendered in angular geometries consistent with Cubist aesthetics. The color palette is relatively subdued with shades of blue, yellow, and brown that evoke a sense of harmony despite the dislocation of forms. The disjointed bodies appear to bask or recline peacefully in the light, and despite the lack of facial details, there is a conveyance of leisure and repose. The Expressionist influence can be discerned in the way emotion and subjective experience seem to be prioritized over realistic representation, further enhancing the piece’s dreamlike and thought-provoking quality.
