The artwork titled “Unsatisfied Desires,” created by the Surrealist artist Salvador Dali in 1928, is an oil on cardboard painting. It measures 76 by 62 centimeters and is categorized within the landscape genre. This piece is part of the collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) in San Francisco, California, United States, exemplifying the distinct surreal imagery for which Dali is renowned.
The artwork presents a sparse, dream-like landscape dominated by a muted, almost ethereal horizon. At first glance, it may appear incomplete or minimalistic. The composition features two primary elements of note; on the left is an ambiguous form, possibly a hand, protruding from a dark, textured mass, with fingers seeming to gesture or point. On the right is a larger, more flesh-colored shape that embodies the curvature and suppleness akin to human anatomy, particularly the back or a torso. These disjointed forms are separated by a stark expanse, symbolizing isolation or potential longing.
Red accents are minimal but deliberate, highlighting the tips of both forms, hinting at deeper meanings, perhaps of passion or pain. The overall effect of the artwork is one that provokes contemplation and introspection, hallmarks of the Surrealist movement, in which ordinary objects and figures are often distorted or metamorphosed to reveal the unconscious desires and thoughts of the human mind. Through this artwork, Dali invites viewers into an enigmatic realm where conventional interpretations are challenged, prompting a personal search for understanding within the surreal tableau he has masterfully orchestrated.
