“The Great Masturbator” is a seminal artwork by Salvador Dali, created in 1929. The piece is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 110 by 150 cm. It stands as an iconic example of the Surrealist movement, a genre known for its symbolic and dream-like visual language. Housed in the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid, Spain, the artwork is a testament to Dali’s unique ability to channel his subconscious and to render his fantasies and obsessions into tangible forms.
The artwork features a vast, desert-like landscape under a bright blue sky, typical of Dali’s works, evoking an otherworldly, dream-like setting. Dominating the scene is a large, amorphous figure that resembles a human face in profile, resting on the ground. This face, interpreted as representing Dali’s own, has a closed eye with long eyelashes and is commonly seen as a metaphor for the artist’s anxiety and inner turmoil, especially concerning sexual matters.
Various other elements populate the composition: a grasshopper clings to the face, possibly symbolizing Dali’s childhood fear and loathing of these insects. There are also ants, another recurring motif in Dali’s art, which often signify decay and intense sexual desire. Near the main figure’s mouth, a smaller profile of a woman appears to sprout from the main form, perhaps an allusion to Gala, Dali’s muse, and lifelong companion.
Two figures stand in the background, with one of them holding a reflective object that angles towards the large central face. These figures reinforce the sense of isolation and loneliness. The inclusion of balancing rocks and a bleeding pomegranate further enhances the cryptic narrative Dali offers to his audience, inviting myriad interpretations based on the psychology and experiences of the viewers.
This artwork encapsulates the themes central to Surrealism, such as the exploration of the subconscious, dream imagery, and the juxtaposition of incongruent objects—ultimately creating a provocative and evocative tableau that compels viewers to confront the deeper recesses of their own minds.
