The artwork titled “Still Life” by Salvador Dali was created in 1923. It is an oil painting on cardboard that measures 50.1 by 56 cm. Created during the Cubist movement, this piece belongs to the still life genre, typically depicting inanimate subject matter, often commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made.
The artwork demonstrates typical Cubist characteristics through its deconstruction of objects and the interplay of geometric shapes. The palette is fairly subdued with hints of brighter colors, allowing the focus to be drawn to the fragmented forms that blend into one another, creating an abstract interpretation of a still life scene. Various objects are presented from multiple viewpoints, a defining feature of Cubism, emphasizing the two-dimensional canvas while simultaneously suggesting three-dimensional space. Though detail is minimal and does not seek to realistically portray its subject, the painting still offers a semblance of reality that requires contemplation to decipher the represented forms within the work.
