Antinoos transpercé par la flèche d’Ulysse 1970

Editor: Here we have Salvador Dali's "Antinoos transperc\u00e9 par la fl\u00e8che d\u2019Ulysse" from 1970, a watercolor piece. The way that arrow enters his mouth is gruesome and unsettling, what can you tell us about this caricature? Curator: Well, considering Dalí's historical context, post-World War II and the rise of consumer culture, one could interpret this as a grotesque commentary on the consumption and the corruption of power. Ulysses' arrow pierces Antinous, one of Penelope's suitors, representing perhaps the downfall of idealized beauty at the hand of strategic cunning. Editor: I hadn't thought about it like that! What do you mean about "idealized beauty?" Curator: Antinous was, traditionally, renowned for his beauty. Dali is using this to show the socio-political and even the public reception to icons when old structures of powers are threatened, and I wonder, what structures was Dalí speaking to at the time, here? Editor: That is quite interesting indeed. Do you think this piece represents more his artistic style of surrealism, or the corruption and loss of tradition? Curator: It is undoubtedly both, in my opinion. The surreal style accentuates the distorted reality, enabling him to amplify the theme of decaying values, using his celebrity persona and artistic licence. It serves as a biting social critique. How effective do you think Dalí is in communicating that with his caricature, in relation to modern caricature art? Editor: Very thought-provoking, it makes me want to explore the ways that other modern artists communicated through caricature to amplify political issues. Curator: And it brings home just how powerful artwork can be as a mirror to society, and, potentially, how society wants to see itself.