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Salvador Dali The Work the Man
Book by Descharnes, Robert
- GenresArtNonfictionBiography
456 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 20, 2026
Big Art Book
Playing with scale, this ten plus pound beast of an artbook is filled with Dalí's paintings of all sizes. Along with the rich, vibrant color palette he is known for, Salvador Dalí is well remembered for using scale to manipulate perception of reality, often contrasting microscopic detail with vast, infinite landscapes. Many of his most famous works, such as The Persistence of Memory, are surprisingly small. This forces viewers to step closer, creating an intimate, voyeuristic experience. In his later "Nuclear Mysticism" phase, he pivoted to massively monumental canvases like The Hallucinogenic Toreador. These large scales allowed him to hide double images that only became visible when standing several feet away. He frequently painted objects with elastic size, like melting clocks, to symbolize the fluidity of time and the weight of the subconscious. By alternating between the tiny and the towering, Dalí disrupted our logical expectations of the physical world.
The text throughout pairs close analysis of his art with insights into his flamboyant personality and public persona. His work situates Dalí within Surrealism and 20th‑century avant‑garde culture. The book is organized chronologically, showing how his technical virtuosity matured over time. Expect a mix of biographical detail, interpretation of key works, and discussion of recurring motifs like dream imagery, time, eroticism, and grotesque juxtapositions. A number of the more illusory body images play on the concept of humans as containers, for example. Many motifs are of common symbols, like horses and automobiles, which lend a living active impression to his art.
Dalí died not so very long ago, in 1989. Admittedly, anything before 2005 is pre-life-as-we-know-it. But his work has impacted many modern artists. The book aims to illuminate both the evolution of Dalí’s art and the construction of his celebrity. It traces his approach to painting from early training to later iconic Surrealist imagery, while also examining how he cultivated a distinctive persona through stunts, lectures, and strategic branding.
This big book is well-suited for art lovers, Surrealism enthusiasts, and readers curious about 20th‑century celebrity culture. Dalí experimented with a few paintings that were Impressionist, Pointillist, and even Fauve, with the explosion of colors. The book offers critical and historical context, addressing Dalí’s relationships, patrons, and schools, as well as the reception of his work over time. For a longitudinal comparison of Dalí start to finish, you can checkout a few of my favorites online (listed below) or you can checkout this giant arty book from the public library.
My favorite early works:
Old Man at Twilight, 1918
Head of a Gypsy, 1919-20
Self-Portrait, 1921
Girls in a Garden, 1921
Port Alguer, 1924
Venus and a Sailor, 1925
Late Works::
The Happy Unicorn, 1977
Dalí’s Hand Drawing Back the Golden Fleece in the Form of a Cloud to Show Gala the Dawn, Completely Nude, 1977
Dawn, Noon, Sunset, and Twilight, 1979
The Path of the Enigma, 1981
Apparition of the Visage of Aphrodite of Cnide in a Landscape, 1981
Playing with scale, this ten plus pound beast of an artbook is filled with Dalí's paintings of all sizes. Along with the rich, vibrant color palette he is known for, Salvador Dalí is well remembered for using scale to manipulate perception of reality, often contrasting microscopic detail with vast, infinite landscapes. Many of his most famous works, such as The Persistence of Memory, are surprisingly small. This forces viewers to step closer, creating an intimate, voyeuristic experience. In his later "Nuclear Mysticism" phase, he pivoted to massively monumental canvases like The Hallucinogenic Toreador. These large scales allowed him to hide double images that only became visible when standing several feet away. He frequently painted objects with elastic size, like melting clocks, to symbolize the fluidity of time and the weight of the subconscious. By alternating between the tiny and the towering, Dalí disrupted our logical expectations of the physical world.
The text throughout pairs close analysis of his art with insights into his flamboyant personality and public persona. His work situates Dalí within Surrealism and 20th‑century avant‑garde culture. The book is organized chronologically, showing how his technical virtuosity matured over time. Expect a mix of biographical detail, interpretation of key works, and discussion of recurring motifs like dream imagery, time, eroticism, and grotesque juxtapositions. A number of the more illusory body images play on the concept of humans as containers, for example. Many motifs are of common symbols, like horses and automobiles, which lend a living active impression to his art.
Dalí died not so very long ago, in 1989. Admittedly, anything before 2005 is pre-life-as-we-know-it. But his work has impacted many modern artists. The book aims to illuminate both the evolution of Dalí’s art and the construction of his celebrity. It traces his approach to painting from early training to later iconic Surrealist imagery, while also examining how he cultivated a distinctive persona through stunts, lectures, and strategic branding.
This big book is well-suited for art lovers, Surrealism enthusiasts, and readers curious about 20th‑century celebrity culture. Dalí experimented with a few paintings that were Impressionist, Pointillist, and even Fauve, with the explosion of colors. The book offers critical and historical context, addressing Dalí’s relationships, patrons, and schools, as well as the reception of his work over time. For a longitudinal comparison of Dalí start to finish, you can checkout a few of my favorites online (listed below) or you can checkout this giant arty book from the public library.
My favorite early works:
Old Man at Twilight, 1918
Head of a Gypsy, 1919-20
Self-Portrait, 1921
Girls in a Garden, 1921
Port Alguer, 1924
Venus and a Sailor, 1925
Late Works::
The Happy Unicorn, 1977
Dalí’s Hand Drawing Back the Golden Fleece in the Form of a Cloud to Show Gala the Dawn, Completely Nude, 1977
Dawn, Noon, Sunset, and Twilight, 1979
The Path of the Enigma, 1981
Apparition of the Visage of Aphrodite of Cnide in a Landscape, 1981
May 6, 2026
Pacing and Rhythm The pacing of the story is moderate, neither too fast nor too slow. It gives the reader enough time to process the information before moving on to the next section. There is a clear sense of progression as the chapters unfold. To see the estimated reading time for each section, click here. >>> https://script.google.com/macros/s/AK...
December 29, 2015
Libro recopilatorio de todas las obras del genio del surrealismo junto con un resumen biográfico: desde sus primeros bocetos hasta sus obras maestras. Excelente para los que quieren adentrarse del mundo de Dalí.
August 20, 2012
A staggering volume. Comprehensive in scope with magnificent plates.
February 14, 2013
Liebhaberbuch, das nie fertig gelesen / angeschaut ist. 4 Sterne weil ich denke es gibt ein noch besseres über Dali und ich es noch finden werde :-)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews