“The Sun of Dali,” a self-portrait by Salvador Dali, created in 1965, embodies characteristics of both Op Art and Surrealism, exhibiting the idiosyncratic melding of styles for which Dali is renowned.
The artwork presents a dominant yellow sun occupying the majority of the canvas, its face imbued with characteristics reminiscent of Dali himself—thus suggesting its self-portrait nature. The visage within the sun appears rather fragmented, with eyes and mouth discernible through a constellation of dots and lines that contribute to an optical illusion effect typical of Op Art. These elements coerce the eye to perceive a sense of movement or vibration, a technique often utilized to challenge and engage the viewer’s visual perception.
Adjacent to the sun’s visage, figures emerge at the bottom right corner. Though their forms are somewhat abstracted, one can deduce the depiction of two personages possibly basking in the sun’s enigmatic presence. The style of the figures is slightly suggestive of transparency and evanescence—key attributes in many of Dali’s surrealist compositions, blending reality with a dream-like fluidity.
Around the sun and the figures are additional details which emphasize contrasts in both color and texture, accentuating the overall enigmatic qualities that dominate Dali’s work. The use of intense yellow tones casts a luminescent and somewhat other-worldly glow, further enhancing the surreal ambience that is characteristic of Dali’s oeuvre.
