Flagellation à la colonne 1964

Salvador Dalí made this watercolour and ink drawing, Flagellation à la colonne, sometime in the mid-twentieth century. It's a messy affair, isn’t it? With ink bleeding and watercolor pooling, it's like the whole thing is dissolving before our eyes. I love how Dalí embraces the fluidity of his materials. There’s something about the way the brown ink splatters and drips that feels so visceral. It’s like he's not just painting a scene, but also capturing the raw, messy energy of emotion. Look at the column! It is like a totem pole of repressed desire. I think of artists like Francis Picabia, who also embraced a kind of chaotic energy in their work. Both artists remind us that art isn't always about control or perfection. Sometimes, it's about letting go and seeing what happens when you allow the materials to take over. There's no right or wrong way to interpret it. It's more like a feeling, a vibe, a question mark hanging in the air.