The Face of War by Salvador Dali

           

     
     The Face of War, by Salvador Dali, from 1940 was painted to depict a period when the Spaniards, including Salvador Dali, were going through difficult times as a result of a three year long, Second Spanish Civil War (Dali Face of War). The Spanish Civil War affected the Spaniards severely due to their goal to become a Republic; which was crushed and left Spain turning into a repressive fascist dictatorship (Dali Face of War). Salvador Dali was across the world left grieving for his country and the pain his people faced. Salvador Dali's painting Face of War was his way of paying homage to his country. 

      Dali's Face of War is unique because it is a personal subject for him and is his way of expressing Salvador's feelings towards war. Even if your are viewing the painting for the first time, it is clearly seen that suffering is illustrated through a dead face. Also noticed are the repetitive faces of death and decay in the painting (Dali Face of War). Which depicts only one tone, death and nothing else. From this painting it is shown that to Salvador Dali all war meant was death. Another noticeable detail is the emaciated face of the corpse whose face bores into the eyes of its viewers. It artistically sends a message that The Face of War only sees and speaks death. This depiction of war is also a special topic for Dali who claimed to feel the pain and destructions of war mentally and physically (Dali Face of War). Lastly, Dali's handprint is featured in the right-hand corner, which is seen as his way of telling viewers the definition of war using art over words (Dali Face of War).

      My theme The Impact of War is expressed uniquely through this famous painting by Salvador Dali, who sends his message about war using art.  Dali provides his explanation of war so effortlessly by painting a corpse face who screams death and suffering. Many may not realize that it is not just suffering the corpse is going through; but most importantly the face of a corpse stuck in a war-ridden world.  Pain, death, suffering, and despair are all interpretations that are negative towards war; which all my artists featured are focused on illustrating and how war ultimately affects people and a society. 

"Dali Face of War" (2011, April 24). The Artist Salvador Dali. <http://www.theartistsalvadordali.com/face-war.htm>.


"The Face of War" (image) http://www.tufts.edu/programs/mma/fah188/clifford/3Salvador-Dali-The-Face-Of-War.jpg