The artwork “Portrait of Garcia Lorca” was created by the artist Salvador Dali in the year 1924. Though Dali is commonly associated with the Surrealist movement, this particular portrait was made before his deep immersion into Surrealism, and thus it does not exhibit the typical characteristics of that style. The portrait falls under the genre of portraiture.
Upon examination of the artwork, one can discern the use of stark contrasts and a limited monochromatic palette, primarily consisting of black against a lighter background. The subject’s facial features and form are suggested through a series of etched lines and shapes, which serve to give an impressionistic representation of Garcia Lorca’s visage. Unique to Dali’s approach is the abstraction and exaggeration in the lines that compose the figure, which may hint at the artist’s inclination toward experimenting with form and the boundaries of figurative representation, a precursor to his later Surrealist works.
The piece also features handwritten text, which includes the name “F. Garcia Lorca” and the date “1924”, contributing an additional personal and historical context to the artwork. This inscription, in the artist’s own hand, adds an intimate dimension, suggesting a direct connection between the artist and the subject depicted. Overall, the artwork stands as a noteworthy example of Dali’s early forays into portraiture and indicates a budding experimentation with the elements that would later define his iconic Surrealist oeuvre.
