The artwork “Mystical Carnation” by Salvador Dalí, created between 1950 and 1951, represents an amalgamation of Realism and Surrealism within the genre of flower painting. Salvador Dalí, known for his striking and bizarre images, imbues this work with a sense of enigmatic beauty and layered symbolism typical of his approach to Surrealism, while also displaying a meticulous attention to detail that grounds the work in Realism.
In the artwork, a single carnation is prominently displayed at the center. It is positioned against a dark backdrop, which accentuates its form and the striking contrast it forms with the surroundings. The carnation appears to burst forth from a crumpled piece of cloth, suggesting an element of emergence or birth. This white cloth rests on a flat surface and is draped in such a way that it forms a soft, undulating terrain, possibly referencing the gentle landscape of a dream or an otherworldly plane.
The flower, with its intricately detailed petals, exhibits the fineness characteristic of Dalí’s realist technique. However, the setting and the presentation of the flower transcend the bounds of traditional flower painting, entering the domain of the surreal. The folds of the cloth seem to possess a life of their own, almost mimicking the waves of an ocean or the peaks of mountains in miniature.
Adding to the mystique, the stem of the carnation extends downward into the cloth without visible support, a feat that defies the expectations of natural law and reinforces the surrealist nature of the work. This surrealist touch invites the viewer to look beyond the apparent and to question the reality of the scene presented. The seemingly simple subject of a flower is transformed into a profound statement, demonstrating Dalí’s masterful ability to turn the familiar into the extraordinary.
