Metamorphosis of Narcissus
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Metamorphosis of Narcissus (1937) is an 511 x 781 mm oil on canvas painting by the Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí. This painting is from Dalí's Paranoiac-critical period. According to Greek mythology, Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a pool. Unable to embrace the watery image, he pined away, and the gods immortalized him as a flower. Dali completed this painting in 1937 on his long awaited return to Paris after having had great success in the United States.
The painting shows Narcissus sitting in a pool, gazing down. Not far away there is a decaying stone figure which corresponds closely to him but is perceived quite differently; as a hand holding up a bulb or egg from which a Narcissus is growing. The egg has been used as a symbol for sexuality in other paintings by Dali. In the background, a group of naked figures can be seen, while a third Narcissus like figure appears on the horizon.
A long poem was written by Dalí to accompany the painting. The Metamorphosis of Narcissus is currently on display at the Salvador Dali Mueseum in Figures, Spain in room 5.
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