The artwork titled “Mariae annunciato (Luke 1:26f)” was created by Salvador Dali between 1964 and 1967. This religious painting is part of Dali’s “The Biblia Sacra” series and is executed in gouache, a medium involving pigment suspended in water with a binding agent. The artwork is associated with the Expressionism and Symbolism art movements, both of which are known for their emphasis on emotional experience and symbolic content.
The artwork depicts the biblical scene of the Annunciation, with a representation of the Virgin Mary at the focal point of the composition. The use of light and shadow is dramatic, with a strong contrast that emphasizes the spiritual and miraculous nature of the event. Mary is portrayed in a humble and receptive posture with her hands raised, seemingly in awe or surrender, as she receives the news of her divine role from the angel, whose presence is symbolized by a splash of ornate color and a suggestion of wings. The rays of divine light descending upon Mary signify the heavenly intervention. An open book is visible in the foreground, perhaps signifying the scriptures or the fulfillment of prophetic words. The colors are emotive, setting a mystic tone that reflects the symbolic and expressionist intentions of the artist, underpinning the overall transcendent quality of the scene.
