Spanish Surrealism: The Works of Salvador DalÃ

1 Course Unit

The Spanish painter Salvador Dalà (1904-1983) is the most recognizable figure in the Surrealist movement. In the public eye he was considered at times the embodiment of the movement itself. Dalà responded with a high dosage of histrionics by cultivating an extravagant public persona. However, this public image often obscures the importance of his seminal contributions to the avant-garde movement. Dalà is arguably one of the most serious and interesting thinkers and theorists of the avant- garde movement during the 1930's and 1940's. He is also one of the most important painters of the movement, and his contributions to contemporary art are irreplaceable. In this course we will read his written work and we will study and analyze his paintings trying to uncover constant topics, motifs, obsessions, etc. Fall or Spring Prerequisite: SPAN 1800 OR SPAN 1900 1 Course Unit