The artwork “Still Life. Watermelon” is a notable work by artist Salvador Dali, created in 1924. This painting embraces the Cubist art movement, which revolutionized European painting and sculpture in the early 20th century, and it falls within the genre of still life. Dali’s piece reflects the typical fragmented and abstracted forms of Cubism, demonstrating his exploration of perspective and form during this period of his artistic career.
In the artwork, the composition features a variety of objects that one can assume to be typical for a still life, such as segments of a watermelon, which are prominently positioned. The background and other objects are fractured into a series of geometric shapes and planes, a stylistic hallmark of Cubism. Earthy and pastel tones dominate the palette, allowing the deep red of the watermelon to stand out as a vivid focal point amidst the surrounding muted colors. The precise date of the work, 1924, is inscribed on the canvas, situating it firmly within Dali’s early experimental phase before he transitioned into Surrealism, for which he is most famously known.
