The artwork “The Pyramids and the Sphinx of Gizeh,” painted by Salvador Dali in 1954, is an oil on canvas. Classified within the landscape genre, the piece exemplifies elements of the Expressionism movement. After its creation, the artwork became part of a private collection and has since remained outside of public institutional holdings.
The artwork presents a surreal and expressionistic interpretation of the iconic pyramids and the Sphinx located in Giza, Egypt. The perspective taken by Dali imbues the scene with a dream-like quality. The pyramids themselves are rendered with sharp, precise lines that form their solid geometric shapes against the backdrop of a vast desert expanse. The Sphinx is discernible but merges seamlessly with the desert landscape, contributing to the otherworldly atmosphere. The color palette of the artwork ranges from warm tones that evoke the heat of the Egyptian desert, with golden and amber hues dominating the scene, to the dark shadows that define the edges of the pyramids and add dramatic contrast. The sky is depicted with a transition from light to dark, suggesting the interplay of shadow and light as time passes. The vast empty spaces and the minimal inclusion of detail within the artwork are characteristic of Dali’s style, inviting the viewer to contemplate the ancient wonders within a space that feels both timeless and suspended.
