Fleurs 1948

Editor: So, this is "Fleurs," or Flowers, painted by Salvador Dalí in 1948, using watercolor. I'm really drawn to how delicate and ethereal they seem, almost like they're floating. How do you interpret this work? Art Historian: From a materialist perspective, let’s look at how Dalí used watercolor, a medium traditionally associated with sketching and illustration, not the grand scale of oil painting he was known for. It appears that during this time, postwar materials may have been scarce, thus creating more focus on watercolor as opposed to the oil paints. How does this shift in medium alter our understanding of Dalí’s artistic production and its accessibility during that time? Editor: That's interesting! I hadn't considered the limitations he might have been facing. Does that also influence the subject matter? Are the flowers themselves significant beyond just being flowers? Art Historian: Possibly. We need to think about the social context. 1948 was a time of rebuilding after immense destruction. Are the delicate blooms a symbol of hope and rebirth, especially potent after the war's devastation? Also, observe the fast application of the washes and fine lines. It seems like Dalí sought a departure in both speed and style. Would you agree? Editor: Yeah, that makes sense. They could definitely represent resilience, given that they look both fragile but at the same time resilient, considering the colors. Plus, watercolor can be challenging because it's less forgiving, right? Art Historian: Exactly. And that challenge becomes part of the meaning. It makes you consider what was accessible to artists during those post war moments and how those economic, geographic or logistical limits impacted creativity and ultimately, the final artwork. Editor: Wow, I never thought about considering the materials that way. Art Historian: It reveals much about artistic agency within specific constraints of the material world. I’m glad we looked at this Dalí! Editor: Me too, I am happy I stopped here.