The artwork entitled “The Angelus of Gala” was created by the artist Salvador Dali in 1935. This piece is an oil painting on wood, measuring 32 x 26 cm, and it is a blend of Realism and Surrealism, classified as a portrait. Currently, it is housed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, New York, United States.
In the artwork, the viewer is presented with a complex composition that engages with themes of perception and the subconscious. The foreground prominently features a seated woman, gazing straight ahead with an enigmatic expression illuminated against a neutral background. Her clothing is intricately patterned, and her hands are clasped together on her lap. The person’s realistic portrayal contrasts with the surreal dimensions and distortions present elsewhere in the artwork.
Behind this figure is the depiction of the back of another person, whose head is turned away, directing the viewer’s focus towards a framed painting on the wall. Within this painting, two figures can be seen engaged in what appears to be a devotional act, a reference to Jean-François Millet’s famous painting “The Angelus.” The juxtaposition of the figures, along with the symbolic content of the framed artwork within the painting, invites viewers to explore the depths of the scene, potentially uncovering themes of spirituality, memory, and the passage of time as they relate to the central figure, Gala—Dali’s muse and wife. The layers of meaning within this work and the masterful blend of realism and surrealism underscore Dali’s reputation as a visionary artist with a distinct ability to capture the dreamscape of the mind.
