The artwork titled “Portrait of the Viscountess Marie Laure de Noailles” was crafted by artist Salvador Dali in the year 1932. As a renowned figure in the Surrealism art movement, Dali created this portrait as a representation of the genre. Surrealism is known for its exploration of the unconscious mind and dream-like scenes, often blending reality with fantastical elements.
In this artwork, the viewer is presented with a striking and complex composition. The subject, the Viscountess Marie Laure de Noailles, is depicted in a stylized double image that appears merged with its background. One profile faces left while the other faces right, and the two are joined at the cheek, creating a visage that is both haunting and beautiful. The faces are adorned with vibrant colors and intricate details, including what appears to be a floral garland on the head of the figure facing left, and a sheer, patterned material wrapped around the neck. These details are characteristic of Dali’s attention to texture and pattern, contributing to the overall richness of the image.
The backdrop features a vast, twilight sky that transitions from warm to cool tones and a surrealist landscape that features craggy cliffs, merging with the contours of the faces. In the foreground, resting on what seems to be a wood grain surface, there are a pair of scissors, an open box containing what resembles a jeweled egg, and other small objects. The juxtaposition of these commonplace items with the larger dreamlike elements of the portrait is a hallmark of Surrealist art, intended to disrupt the viewer’s conventional perception and evoke an otherworldly aura.
This artwork encapsulates the essence of Surrealism by challenging the boundaries between reality and the imagination, using portraiture as a medium to delve into the psyche and create a symbolic representation that extends beyond traditional portraiture norms.
