Dali and Rhinoceros 

Philippe Halsman’s photograph captures Salvador Dalí in stark monochrome, nose to nose with a rhinoceros head. The composition hinges on the interplay of forms—the sharp, conical hat mirroring the rhino's dominant horn. Dalí’s intense gaze invites us to interpret the symbolic structure of this encounter. The photograph’s formal elements, such as the dramatic contrast and texture, highlight the symbolic dialogue between man and beast. Halsman uses scale and proximity to emphasize the conceptual link between Dalí’s surrealist vision and the primal, instinctual power embodied by the rhinoceros. This photograph may be seen as a study in contrasts, where reason confronts instinct. Ultimately, Halsman's choice of black and white and the careful arrangement of forms not only capture a moment but also invite ongoing reflection on the boundaries between the conscious and the unconscious. This challenges fixed ideas about reality and representation, and it opens up new perspectives.