"The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus" (1958-1959) Image source: http://webcoast.com/Dali/90.htm |
"The Madonna of Port Lligat" (1949) |
Gala in Dali's Paintings in his Post-Surrealist Period
| No matter in what way, Gala was in charge of a crucial part of Dali's mind. In the time when Dali focused on Surrealism, what he dug up were inevitably connecting to Gala. "Dali himself gives the historical and Freudian key to the indissoluble love which had just been born and would dominate all his works, and which only death would terminate" (24). Gala continually shows her strong power in their relationship and her deep influence on Dali's works. "Gala thus weaned me from my crime, and cured my madness. Thank you! I want to love you! I was to marry her. My hysterical symptoms disappeared one by one, as by enchantment. I became master again of my laughter, of my smile and of my gesture. A new health, fresh as a rose, began to grow in the centre of my spirit," Dali says(26). |
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Gala had kept her power over Dali since their first meeting. Even after Dali's passion for Surrealism disappeared, we still can find Gala's image in his paintings. Dali had been occupied by Gala's image for all his life. He takes her as the image of all women and goddesses. In the picture, "The Madonna of Port Lligat", the face of Virgin Mary is replaced by Gala's. Furthermore, in "The Discovery of American by Christopher Columbus" Gala is portrayed as a goddess with golden ray around her head. These paintings are all the late works of Dali. Instead of drawing something very symbolic like he did in his surrealistic period, he shows his admiration to Gala directly by portraying her as goddess. Sexual image symbolizes the confrontation between his desire and fear, but after it softens, he finds their love as divine. |
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"The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus" (1958-1959) Image source: http://webcoast.com/Dali/90.htm |
"The Madonna of Port Lligat" (1949) |
