The artwork entitled “Inter filios die affuit etiam Satan (Job 2:6)” is a religious painting by Salvador Dali, crafted between the years 1964 and 1967. This gouache work is part of “The Biblia Sacra” series and is characterized by its expressionist and symbolic qualities. The painting depicts themes and narratives derived from sacred texts, which is a recurring subject in Dali’s extensive body of work.
Upon examining the artwork, one is presented with a stark interplay of shadow and color. The dominating figure is cast in silhouette, a profound darkness that contrasts with the softer, mottled hues of brown and touches of vibrant color surrounding it. The use of light and shadow creates a dramatic atmosphere, which is characteristic of expressionism, aiming to evoke an emotional response from the viewer. The figure’s posture is contemplative or possibly burdensome, adding a layer of narrative that invites speculation about the scene’s biblical context.
The title references a verse from the Book of Job, suggesting that the figure might represent Job himself or perhaps an allegorical representation of adversity as personified by Satan’s presence among the sons of God. Dali’s symbolic use of color and form deliberately leaves much to interpretation, prompting a contemplative engagement with the themes of faith, suffering, and redemption that often permeate religious iconography.
