The artwork “Paranoiac-Astral Image,” created by Salvador Dali in 1934, is an oil painting on panel measuring 15.8 x 22.1 cm. It is a fine example of the Surrealism movement and can be categorized under the landscape genre. The artwork is currently housed at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut, United States.
This enigmatic landscape features a desolate, expansive plain under a clear sky that dominates the upper portion of the composition. The horizon is subtly delineated, hinting at the vastness of the space. In the foreground, a man stands in profile, donning a suit and with what appears to be a crutch or stick, which is a recurrent motif in Dali’s works, leading the eye towards the sky. Slightly to the right, a figure occupies a small boat, stranded on the barren terrain, possibly a woman looking outwards, adding a touch of life and mystery. Between these two figures, there is a transparent clothed form, like a ghost, creating an uncanny presence, while another undefined object is close to it on the plain. The artwork is rife with symbolism and open to multiple interpretations, inviting viewers to ponder the connection between the figures, objects, and the vast, empty space around them.
