The artwork “Still Life (Pulpo y scorpa)” by Salvador Dali, dated 1922, is an oil on canvas representing the still life genre within the context of Expressionism. It measures 54.2 x 57.1 cm and is currently housed in the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States.
In the artwork, vibrant colors command attention, portraying a composition of various objects. At the center lies a vividly red-spotted fish, presumably a scorpionfish (“scorpa”) given the title, resting on a dish. Adjacent to the fish, partially peeled lemons inject a sense of freshness into the scene with their bright yellow hues. A dark, ceramic vase and long vertical elements—perhaps knives or utensils—provide a contrast in both color and form. The background and drapery underneath the objects vary in warm tones, creating a sense of depth and dimensionality characteristic of Expressionist works, where emotional experience often overrides physical accuracy. Despite the early date of the artwork, one may observe a precursor to Dali’s more surrealist explorations in the visceral rendering of the fish and the unusual combination of objects. The painting is marked by a particular attention to texture and detail, which gives each element a tangible presence within the canvas’s bounds.
