Dali's Crucifixion - My Take
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Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus) by Salvador Dalí. (1954)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.
The image shown here is claimed to be used under fair use as:
- It is a historically significant painting, as per the information in the article.
- The image is only being used for informational purposes.
- Its inclusion in the article adds significantly to the article because it shows the art of the subject of this article and how the image depicted is familiar to the general public.
- The image is readily available on the Internet.
A surreal crucifixion
Dali's paintings make a great intro to surrealism and modern art. Look at this one. If not for the cubes, Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus) would look, at first glance, like an old master's piece.
Surrealism is the rendering of dreams in literature, art or music. Surrealists were influenced by that old Freud, Sigmund. Dali's brand of surrealism consisted of double images, floating objects, morphs....the stuff of dreams. For example, he has painted self-portraits on one of the knees of the crucified Christ, and the cubic cross floats above a giant chessboard. His wife, Gala, stands beside the cross, possibly standing for Mary Magdalene. What say, Dan Brown?
The cube motif is everywhere. Gala stands on one, the floor has black and white squares, and the four cubic nails form a square. Does the hypercube symbolise space-time? Does Dali mean that Christ is the Lord for all eternity, not bound by the limitations of time? He rose on the third day, didn't He? That message is rendered as a visual oxymoron. The world was given a Christ and they crucified Him. But did he stay transfixed? Only in images and sculptures. On the third day, He chose to transcend space time and rose.
Here, Dali shows Him fixed to the cross, but not fixed. He levitates, and projects Himself. Rising above His mortal avatar, His suffering, the earth's gravity, hate, war, death, passions...everything. Get it? The buoyancy of Absolute Love versus the gravity of hate.
What is your insight?
Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Salvador Dalí, 1951
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
The image shown here is claimed to be used under fair use as:
- It is a historically significant painting, as per the information in the article.
- The image is only being used for informational purposes.
- Its inclusion in the article adds significantly to the article because it shows the art of the subject of this article and how the image depicted is familiar to the general public.
- The image is readily available on the Internet.
Divine Light
I love Dali's dreamy lighting. That's half the secret of the timelessness of his paintings. You can stand there looking at it for hours, and it can seem like a minute to you. Or possibly days. The light contributes to that effect, along with the geometrical composition.
I learnt to draw shadows from this picture. Look at the detail where I zoomed up the shadow of the hand. Crisp shadows, almost like Caravaggio's. Except they are not dark, but more realistic.
The Hidden Geometry
By now, after the Last Supper and the Supper at Emmaus, you must be quite an expert at finding out the hidden geometry of visual art? You are a great student of Art! Come here, please, and discover for yourself before reading what I think. Click on image to view bigger and better.
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Well, see if we match. If we do, then we congratulate each other. If we don't we learn from each other!
There is a heavy vertical grid, obviously by the presence of the cubes. Vertical lines, subliminally evoke feelings of stability, monuments, edifices, spiritual progress...Why? Think about it. The horizontal lines add to the stability of earthy matters. And provides a base for the subject.
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There are two triangles formed if you notice. From the Last Supper and Supper at Emmaus, you know that triangles mean stability and security. But not when they are inverted! The inverted triangle creates a feeling of tension and uneasiness inside us. Like a big cone about to topple. Here Christ is an inverted triangle, designed to create a little tension and dynamism in the picture. See?
To illustrate this concept further, I show you another crucifixion Dali did. See the inverted triangle? That's the painting I'm going to do next time. By which time, you will all be experts at reading the secret geometry of art. Praise be to God.
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.After that, since you have been a good student, gentle reader, I give you a light break. Enjoy the video!
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Comments
I love this:
"Here, Dali shows Him fixed to the cross, but not fixed. He levitates, and projects Himself. Rising above His mortal avatar, His suffering, the earth's gravity, hate, war, death, passions...everything. Get it? The buoyancy of Absolute Love versus the gravity of hate." <-----you
another wonderful hub. I love dali anyway. nice choice. :)
Thank you Funride! Now what's left for me to analyse, LOL!
Ah, Iðunn, you know my secret! The best way to make me blush and mumble is to quote me to me! Thank you, kind soul!
you're considerably more quotable than I am. :p
There I beg to differ, but I appreciate the graciousness behind the statement, and accept it in kind. Thank you.
I realize that this is the first time that I have seen the complete paiting. Now I can view the figure standing below. Kenny, you have given me many more dimensions of reality with this fine Hub.
Patty
Dimension is the key to this, Patty, right! Thank you!
Kenny, I must admit, I am a new student of art. I really enjoy your hubs and your analysis of each piece. I've learned some important things about art from you, thank you. Keep them coming.
Kenny
Once again you have given me an opportunity to ponder the beauty and message of true art. At first glance I tend to shy away from this type of art because surrealistic art is more for the abstract thinker than I view myself to be. Upon taking the time to ponder this piece however, I wonder if to truly enjoy surrealistic art more time must be invested by the viewer. That said I have found by pondering on the beauty of the picture some incredible insights I might have otherwise missed.
By noticing the inverted triangle that is formed by Christ and the cross, I have been reminded that the inverted triangle is a symbol of the condescension that a God made to atone for the world, or man. Basically, it is heaven pointing toward earth. The image of the artists self-portrait that is in the knee of the Christ is a suggestion to me that he as accepted Him as his savior, thus "every knee will bow and every tongue confess, that Jesus is The Christ" becomes evident at the placement of the portrait. The positioning of Gala his wife in the position of the triangle looking toward heaven, is symbolic to me of man looking toward God. When those two triangles converge they form the six-pointed star. In the scriptures stars are often used to symbolize endless posterity of those who are faithful to the Abrahamic Covenant. When a husband and wife enter into that covenant together with Christ they have a potential of receiving those promises. The cubes or squares represent to me, the earth or the world, sometimes referred to the "four corners of the world". I feel that with the amount of these symbols present in this picture it may suggest that the Atonement was infinite and eternal, a gift to everyone. Christs free floating position also suggests that he over came the world. Obviously, I have gleaned a lot from your art classes... for this I am grateful to you.
That video was great! Great hub, too! :)
Kenny, don' want to embarass you but I have never met a teacher of art like you! You are indeed a gift to the community; not only do you provide us with great hubs, your kindness in how you treat everyone shines through. As you can see, I am a fan of your hubs. LOL!
Dear Wehzo, I am delighted to have a 'new' student. Thank you for the honour of allowing me to be your first guide to art! :)
Oh, wow, Doghouse! I invited Dan Brown, and I got a better guy: you! That was wonderful! Now, visitors will read your analysis and be inspired! Enthused is the word, I think.
Thank you, Isabella! Fun video that! :)
Violet, I don't mind this embarassment, thank you!
Don't look now, but your kindness is showing.
Through your comment, LOL!
you are wonderful kenny..am speechless..any way to far above this simple one sitting here commenting to a professor of EVERYTHING.Loving what you do..am happy about that first sleepless night!!!! G-Ma :O) hugs
I'm only a jack of all trades, G-ma, and not far above. Not far, either, thanks to the internet. I feel you very near, actually. What simple one? You?
You have seen it all, G-Ma.
But you are SIMPLY super and SIMPLY kind! Hugs. :)
Oh you are a rascal aren't you? always a kind word for every one..I guess that is why you are so well thought of....and I think a lot of you G-ma :O) Hugs
First time I love being called a rascal, hehe! Hugs, G-Ma.
you keep changing your photo...just to keep us all on our toes? This is a good one..:O) Hugs G-Ma :O)
My son keeps doing it, and anyway, you didn't like the last one. Ah, thanks for liking this. :)
Hi Kenny -
Great work, again. The Christ of St John of the Cross is probably the first painting I was consciously aware of. We used to live not too far from Glasgow and often went to the Kelvingrove Museum (usually just called the Art Gallery by the locals). I'm talking about the 50s, when the painting was pretty new. For years, they hung it not in a gallery, but at the top of the main staircase leading up from the museum floor to the art floor. The setting was magnificent and the strong symmetry of the Victorian architecture was the perfect background, extension almost, of the painting. Much later, probably in the 80s, the painting was moved to a new Museum of Culture (I think) in another part of Glasgow. But the setting was not a patch on the original, and besides, Glasgow folk don't like 'their' traditions being messed with, so after much protest, it was returned to its proper home in Kelvingrove.
Kenny you have stun me and surpassed yourself.
Kindness in abundance
Hasn't he though MrMarmalade....
Kenny..... and so what if I didn't favor the last photo?...so your son is having fun with you...good and you seem like.... it is fun also..Good dad that you are.I wish I had more photo's to show that are good..oh well this is not a chat line...sorry G-Ma :O) hugs
Paraglider, thank you for that nugget of information. I didn't know all that, this is much appreciated. Did you know you were very lucky? I haven't seen any of the paintings I talk about, live.
Frank, it's my pleasure to kindly stun you.
G-Ma, please post more photos.
I love your existing one, but would like to see you from more angles. Hugs. :)
Oh dear here is one on a cruise ship with the chef's in the galley>>>> what fun G-Ma :O) hugs
No I changed it again...this is in my kitchen..hee hee. G-Ma :O) hugs you can delete the one above sweetie
I missed the ship one! :( Now'll go check your pic in your profile, a bigger and brighter G-Ma!
Kenny -
I have truly been edified today.
tDMg
LdsNana-AskMormon
And I'm humbled and honoured by that! Thank you, Nana!
Beautiful hub, Kenny, thanks.
Thank you, Debbie!
Quite an amazing painting
great HUB
regards Zsuzsy
Thank you, Amazsing Bee!
miracles. the rose-coloured glasses replaced, the smiles all real, and miracles raining from the heavens infusing my soul with rose-petals and thoughts of poetry about love.
that is all. :)
Wonderful, Iðunn, wonderful! I am delighted.
That is enough. For now. :)
rose petals are warm, kenny, warm and sweet. they taste like burgundy wine.
Dear poet, you sound drunk on the wine of happiness and your avatar looks like burgundy in a glass! :)
Dear artist, I feel like burgundy in a glass, so then it's the correct choice at this time. :)
Kenny look at all the comments you have here.I am speechless.I can comment on the art part but I know very less about Christianity,though my best friend is a true Christian.I am trying to learn.Thanks for all the info.Geat hub!
Iðunn, hope that's a good thing,and you can flowr out whenever you want to. Free Burgundy!
Thank you, Abhinaya. That's okay. I was a an atheist when I first saw this painting but did not appreciate it the less for that. :)
I really enjoyed this insight into Dali, I'll keep an eye out for your other hubs.
Thank you Sim! Hope you read the next one on Dali, too.
If Dali had been alive he would be impressed with your explanation, not everyone can deduce it. Great painting and analysis. Cheers.
Thank you for that compliment, Cgull. I hope he'll be impressed. :)
I don't know much about art, but I do love Dali. I'd love to hear your take on Persistence of Memory.
thanks for the analysis. I must admit that you have really seen deeper, and unveiled geometry in this particular painting. I am still starting to appreciate art, and with that comes a requirement I need to fullfill: an oral exam explaining the corpus hypercubus. thanks for the idea
Rmr, thank you. Think I'll do that, too, soon.
Tin, thanks for the appreciation.
I'm hoping that I'll start everybody off in being with art longer than usual,
and gaining their own unique insights.
Wow, you are pretty intense for a children's book illustrator!
Really great hub, I love Dali.
Hehe, Retro Mama, this is my secret side, like Mr Hyde!
Thanks for a unique comment!
>The buoyancy of Absolute Love versus the gravity of hate.
Thanks for posting this hub. Your insight has delighted me.
Aw, what is the use of an insight if it's not shared? Your comment has buoyed me up, thanks, Joni!
I have loved Dali since I was a teen. And I ain't no teen no more. Back in my late thirties - early forties I got to go to Washington, D.C. to the National Art Museums (there's the East and West one). I just did not get to spend enough time there. I love artists, art and art museums (along with SCIFI and fantasy as well!)
Beyond being struck by a Monet from about 60 feet away - when I went downstairs (into the tunnel that connects the two museums) I gasped. There above the staircase, was the Last Supper - Dali's Last Supper - which is like and unlike Leonardo's.
Thank you for this!
Laurie B.
Thank you for sharing that experience, Laurie.
Dali's Last Supper is wonderful, in the real sense of the word. Do you want to do a hub on that? If you do, I'll link it to this for the benefit of my visitors.
hi kenny
great consistent work.
is it the fact that you are an atheist that helps you analyse christ on the cross (without blinking your eye lid)?
TT, thank you.
I was an atheist, not now. And I blinked, but can't just stand there blinking, can I? Atleast for the sake of my readers? :)
Wonderful hub,thanks.
Thank you, Sligobay.
Went to the Dali Exhibit at the Philadelphia Art Museum a couple years ago with my 10 year old son and my hubbie. It was an amazing experience to see the art of Dali so closely. This hub and your insights as well as the great comments brought the experience back to me in shivers! Thank you! Best, Mary g.
Thank you, Mary, for feeling that this hub helped you relive the experience.
Regards to you and your family.
Kenny
Wow, this is fantastic. Please keep enlightening me. By the way, I gave you a thumbs up for such an excellent hub.
Thanks for the visit, thumbs up and calling this hub fantastic, Angela. Delighted that you like it so much, and hope you take a look at my other art hubs.
Dear Friend thanks for all that. i wish you for all great work its wonderful i dont know how to tell. your analysis is very great. I really enjoyed this insight into Dali, I'll keep an eye out for your other hubs.
Thank you and welcome to my hubs, Friend. Why don't you also write here?
Kenny, I will never look at another picture by Dali in quite the same way. Now I will be looking for shapes and meanings, not just at the picture. Thanks that was fascinating.
Donna
Donna, I am delighted to have made a difference in the way you look at art. No doubt you will share that attitude with people you touch, too! Thank you.
Surrealism has always been one of my favorites- in fact some of my artwork, especially in the earlier days- was definitely surreal-There is something so much deeper than meets the eye-there is hidden meaning that sometimes we can pick up- or sometimes only the artist knows what he meant to say and we never know what the true intention was.Dali is one of my favorite artists- and this is a beautiful painting.Great hub!
Hi Dorsi!
Surrealism allows us to give form to our subconscious visions and touch other minds, too. Whatever Dali wants to say does not matter when we look at his work, possess it and enjoy it with our interpretations.
Thank you for that insight.
Kenny, I continue to learn from you as well as reading everybody's comments. Thank you. :)
I learnt a lot of things from my visitors, too; I'm truly fortunate.
Thank you, Michelle! :)
working
funride says:
6 months ago
I have no words capable to describe how much I´ve liked all of your art hubs. About this one I´m suspect because Dali is one of my favorite painters of all times.
About the 'Christ of Saint John of the Cross', even though I´m still learning from you, I see Him looking above towards the earth at the same time He is also illuminating it with bright colors that contrast with the darkness around Him.
And to show I already learn something eheheh I can tell you that there is another inverted triangle represented by Christ and also several horizontal lines represented by the cross, the hills and the clouds.
I´ll be looking forward for your hub with your master takes.