This artwork may be protected by copyright. It is posted on the site in accordance with fair use principles
Reproductions or prints are
not available for this artwork
We use here Copyright term based on authors' deaths according to
Copyright Law, (70 years).
Artworks
protected by copyright are supposed to be used only for contemplation. Images of that type of artworks
are prohibited for copying, printing, or any kind of reproducing and communicating to public since these activities may be considered
copyright infringement.
More…
Metamorphosis of Narcissus (1937) is an 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 poem was written by Dalí to accompany the painting.