The artwork titled “Un Chien Andalou,” a film still created by Salvador Dali in 1928, embodies the principles of Surrealism. This significant piece is catalogued within the genre of photography and holds its residence at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, New York, United States.
The artwork in question presents a gripping and provocative scene which is central to the Surrealist movement’s exploration of the unconscious mind and dream imagery. We observe a close-up of a woman’s face, her eye held wide open by a male figure’s hands, which introduces a sense of tension and discomfort. The stark black-and-white contrast accentuates the dramatic expression on the woman’s face and the unsettling intimacy of the gesture. As a still from a film, this moment encapsulates the shocking and subversive nature of “Un Chien Andalou,” which sought to disrupt traditional narrative cinema and provoke a visceral response from the audience.