About the Painting
"Ship with Butterfly Sails" was created by Salvador Dali in 1937. Dali used oil to paint this piece of artwork. This medium allows the artist to add more depth and dimensions to the artwork. It shows a wooden ship cutting through the waves of the ocean. In the bottom corners of the painting you can see figures holding butterfly nets and other figures parasailing on the butterflies. The most memorable part about this piece is the vibrant colors on the butterfly sails. Dali put thought into each color and stroke on this painting to show the importance of happiness in artwork. His artwork is a great example of how much insects impact humans. Dali was also known for using honeybees in his artwork as well. This piece of art especially speaks to me because of the colors and symbolism used.
Meaning Behind the Painting
"Ship with Butterfly Sails" has many meanings behind it. To start, the main color used in this painting is blue. Blue is used to paint the sky and the sea. In the sky you can also see the cloud which resemble waves, this connects the theme of the sky and the sea. Water typically symbolizes purity, so I think this adds to the idea of his painting symbolizing life and freedom. I see the theme freedom with the butterfly sails. Butterflies have wings and they are free to fly wherever they want. Boats cannot leave port without sails, so the butterfly sails help the boat take off. I think it also connects to human society because everyone wants freedom. No one wants to feel like they are docked at a port, unable to move. The men with the butterfly nets seem to be reaching out for the butterflies. They want to catch them. So another theme is the fight to gain freedom. In 1937, when "Ship with Butterfly Sails" was painted, Spain was in the middle of a Civil War. Dali used this painting as a way to give hope to the people of Spain. The people of Spain were fighting to gain freedom, that is why this painting shows the fight for freedom and the importance freedom places on in everyday life.
Surrealism in Spanish Art
The Spanish Surrealism Movement began in 1924. "The Surrealist artists sought to channel the unconscious as a means to unlock the power of the imagination" [4]. The artists used colors and their imagination to create memorable art no one had seen before. "By employing fantasy and dream imagery, artists generated creative works in a variety of media that exposed their inner minds in eccentric, symbolic ways, uncovering anxieties and treating them analytically through visual means" [4]. Dali is one of the most famous Surrealists and will always be remembered for his wide range of artwork.
