Christ of Saint John on the Cross by Salvador Dalí (Interpretation and Analysis)

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Christ of Saint John on the Cross
Source: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower
Although Salvador Dalí was well known for his stranger paintings, he also had a strong interest in portraying religious subjects. This wasn’t because Dalí—who was an extremely eccentric individual—was at all devout, but rather because he was interested in exploring the power of religious imagery. In essence, Dalí used art to forge a mystical connection to what he perceived to be divine.

Christ of Saint John on the Cross is one of Dalí’s most interesting religious paintings. The piece depicts the crucified Christ from above, with the cross hanging seemingly unsupported in the sky. Christ’s body slumps off the cross, as if he is about to fall out of the sky. The graceful arc of his arms resembles the sweeping wings of a bird. Below, a seascape stretches to the horizon below, and a boat bobs in the water. This part of the scene is modeled on Port Lligat, where Dalí lived.

The painting references a drawing—which also shows Christ from above—by Saint John of the Cross, a major figure in the sixteenth century counter-reformation movement, resulting in the strange name of the painting.

This reimagining of the crucifixion scene challenges the conventions of Western art in powerful ways. The angle of Christ’s body is extremely unusual, forcing the viewer to confront the physical reality of crucifixion in a new way. Furthermore, Christ’s face is concealed and his hands are unmarked by stigmata, two visual choices that are almost unprecedented. The inclusion of the port is also an unconventional choice; the water symbolizes life, a reference to Christ’s resurrection. The entire cycle of death and life is captured here.

Although Dalí worked during a time in which religiosity was declining, his piece seems to revitalize the visual tradition of Christian mysticism, making it relevant for the modern age. Taken together, these aspects of the painting create a powerful portrait of spiritual life.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

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