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Fantasy Art History
Fantasy Art Work | Van Gogh | Hieronymus Bosch | Paul Gauguin | Paul Cezanne | Auguste Rodin

Salvador Dali: Atomicus

Salvador Dali Atomicus Photo by Philippe Halsman

         There was nothing ordinary about Salvador Dali . . . nothing ordinary about his life and nothing ordinary about his art. So, it is not surprising that a photographic portrait of Salvador Dali should reflect the eccentric nature of his life and work. Perhap s most famous of the variety of unusual photographs made of Salvador Dali is the most unusual "Dali Atomicus" by Philippe Halsman.

How the Photograph was Made:

        The photograph was made in the New York Studio of Philippe Halsman in 1948. The photograph was taken with Halsman's 4 x 5 format twin lens reflex camera. In order to make the photograph, the easel, two Dali paintings, and the step stool were suspended from the ceiling by strings. So these items were easy, since they were really held in the air by string. Halsman's wife held the chair in the air. Note that one leg of the chair is not in the picture. His wife is holding the leg of the chair that is out of the picture. So, all of these items while appearing to be part of the massive confusion and motion of the picture, are actually fixed in place.
         The parts that are moving, and that required the precise timing are the cats, water and Dali himself. Yes, the cats are in fact flying through the air as they appear to be in the picture. The timing sequence was pretty simple. Halsman began to count, and on three his assistants threw the cats, and the water, and then on four Dali jumped in the air, and then Halsman would take the picture. Of course to get the perfect picture took not only careful timing but good luck as well. After taking a picture, Halsman would immediately go to the dark room and develop it. He would then come back and try again. It took a number of tries to get the perfect timing and perfect picture. Halsman wrote that it took six hours and twenty-eight throws to get the picture that we now know as Dali's atomicus. Halsman indicated that the cats were not harmed in the making of the photograph.

Interpretation of the Photograph:

        The photograph was immediately given a two-page spread in a 1948 edition of LIFE magazine. The photograph went on to become one of the most famous and printed, copied and reproduced photographs of all time. On its own, the photograph merits notice and attention, but what is truly unusual about the image is that it is eccentric art about an eccentric artist. The fact that Dali and Dali's work are the subject of the unusual photograph makes it particularly worthy of attention and consideration.
        While we have explained how the photograph was made, people often ask what it means, or what it is about. Both Dali and Halsman were intrigued by the concept of suspension. They were both enamored with the photograph by Harold Edgerton known as the 'Coronet' milk drop photo. This photograph was made in the 1930's and is presented above. The photograph was taken the instant after a droplet of milk lands in a saucer of milk. A crown or coronet is seen rising from the milk, and a tiny satellite droplet is seen suspended over the center of the coronet. It is an exquisite photograph capturing a perfect instant in time. It represents the beauty and perfection of physics which would have gone unnoticed if not for the perfect timing of the photographer.
         At the same time, the world was just becoming aware of the nature of the atom. The concept of matter was of interest to Dali. The knowledge that solid objects were make up of atomic particles, all in motion, and in perfect balance between repulsion and attraction. Unimaginable complexity and confusion at the atomic level led to well behaved simple objects in the macro world in which we live.
         These concepts of suspension and atomic repulsion was being reflected in Dali'swork. His famous painting of Leda Atomica presents a portrait of a woman and a number of everyday objects. All the objects, however, are suspended relative to each other, as are atomic and subatomic particles. The painting would be normal, except that none of the objects you would expect to be touching are touching.
        It is interesting to note that the Atomicus photograph actually features Dali's Leda Atomica painting. In the Dali Atomicus photograph, notice that the painting on the right side of the photograph is actually his Leda Atomica painting (which is presented here at your right). The theme of suspension is carried even further in that Dali's Leda Atomica painting is suspended in the Atomicus photograph, as are the cats, and Dali himself.

Salvador Dali: Leda Atomica

Leda Atomicus

   
   

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