The artwork titled “The Lighthouse at Alexandria” is a mythological painting created by Salvador Dali in 1954. This piece exemplifies the Surrealist movement, which Dali was notably associated with, characterized by its exploration of the unconscious mind and dreamlike imagery. The scene depicted in the artwork is an imaginative re-creation of the ancient wonder, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, set against a tumultuous sky that evokes a sense of mystery and grandeur.
In the artwork, the ancient lighthouse stands tall and imposing, with its structure embellished by hieroglyphic-like inscriptions, which lend an air of antiquity and reverence. At the pinnacle of this architectural marvel, a glowing light radiates, suggestive of its historical role as a beacon for ancient mariners. The waters surrounding the lighthouse are rendered with palpable dynamism, stirring and churning under darkening skies swirling with ominous clouds, perhaps symbolic of the turmoil often found in the depths of the subconscious.
An intricately detailed ship, reminiscent of those from antiquity with figureheads and pronounced sterns, is seen making its way towards the lighthouse—a nod to the lighthouse’s enduring significance as a guiding landmark. The lighthouse itself is surrounded by additional structures with smaller lights and statues adorning their tops, further enriching the fantastical landscape with elements of the mythological. The overall aura of the artwork is one of mystical allure, synthesizing historical grandiosity with Surrealist imagination.
