The artwork titled “Rhinocerotic Portrait of Vermeer’s ‘Lacemaker'” was created by artist Salvador Dali in the year 1955. It exemplifies the movements of Abstract Expressionism and Surrealism, encompassing the figurative genre. The artwork reveals Dali’s unique interpretive vision as it reframes a classical subject through his quintessential surrealistic lens.
Upon examination, the artwork presents an abstracted and dramatic transformation of the original “Lacemaker” by Vermeer. Salvador Dali’s characteristic approach distorts and reimagines the composition, implementing swirling forms and dynamic brushstrokes that evoke a sense of movement and transformation. The central figure, while recognizable as a figure due to its figurative nature, is rendered in a stylistically complex manner that challenges straightforward interpretation. The presence of rhinocerotic shapes, a motif Dali frequently explored, hints at an underlying theme of natural forms and their mathematical representation. Dark and light contrasts create depth, emphasizing the bold abstraction that characterizes both the Abstract Expressionist and Surrealist movements.
