The artwork entitled “Four Fishermen’s Wives of Cadaqués” was created by Salvador Dali in 1928. It is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 148 by 196 centimeters. This piece exemplifies elements of Abstract Art and Naïve Art, sometimes referred to as Primitivism. The genre of the painting is classified as a portrait.
In the artwork, one observes a strikingly simplified abstraction that alludes to the figures of four women. The use of bold, unmodulated color and the reduction of form to mere geometric shapes exemplify the influence of primitivism on the artist’s style. The color palette is primarily composed of red and black against a stark white background, conveying a sense of stark contrast and visual immediacy. There is an evident absence of detailed features or realistic representation, which might suggest the artist’s endeavor to distill the essence of his subjects through stark simplicity rather than depict them with literal accuracy. The composition is devoid of extraneous detail, focusing the viewer’s attention on the essential lines and shapes that form the abstract representation of the fishermen’s wives. Despite Dali’s later association with Surrealism, this piece reflects an earlier exploration of form and style that challenges traditional portraiture.
