Bravo Roger, surely it was that one Millet that inspired Dali to paint his "Dawn, Noon, Sunset and Twilight." As mentioned in my post, he seems to have drawn his inspiration from many and varied artists/sources, including the impressionists and pointillists who were still very in vogue all along Dali's first two decades of artistic activity.
In addition, his choice of certain mysterious motives in several works points at his being an initiate in some sort of esoteric school or logia as, in fact, many, if not all, other great artists before him were - in particular those who reached a genius status. Millet's work was just a peasant's motive and, that I know, no more than that, but Dali's work goes far beyond to suggest priestesses worshipping the Sun and, why not?, the diurnal cycle and cyclic ages. There you have his painting clocks, Kathleen... he obviously was obsessed with time.
And the same goes for his other favorite symbols, like the cross, for example, which he most likely used to represent the Center of the World around which the whole universe, even time, revolves - a very ancient and important esoteric symbol as well.
So I would say even his Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus can be interpreted as a lucid reference to the start of the current cyclic age, the Modern Age, with all that it implies. And did you know that he, Dali, is said to have predicted through this painting that it would be an American the first human to put a foot on the Moon?
So far I have tried to approach Dali's life and works in albis, since I love approaching my subjects without any pre-conceptions. But the more I get into them, the more intriguing discoveries I make. I am so excited by all this. I guess you are too, Roger.
Once again, thanks for your feedback.
Hugs,
Miguel
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But, what to say of this painting below that doesn't even look like a Dali (but is a Dali) with its symmetrical figures of women and its absolutely tranquil atmosphere? It was painted almost ten years later but it seems to be a hundred years older and sort of light-years apart in style - which is no demerit of course.
"Dawn, Noon, Sunset and Twilight" (oil on wood, 1979) I am showing these two master works together just to emphasize how difficult it is to try and give interpretations when dealing with a genius.
Miguel
After a little research I discovered the following. A reproduction of The Angelus (1857-59) By Jean-Francoise Millet hung on the wall of the school which Dali attended at the end of eight and proved to be an endless source of inspiration to him throughout his life. Interesting? I thought so. Another little discovery too, coming here. Roger
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