Description

In turns beloved and reviled twentieth century art painter filmmaker and designer Salvador Dal set Europe and the United States ablaze with his uncompromising genius sexual sadism and flirtations with megalomania His shocking behavior and work frequently alienated critics his views were so outrageous even prominent Surrealists tried to ostracize him Still every morning he experienced an exquisite joythe joy of being Salvador Dal and through a remarkable talent that invited bewilderment anger and adoration rose to unprecedented levels of fameforever shifting the landscape of the art world and the nature of celebrity itself

In this stunning volume noted art historians JeanPierre Isbouts and Christopher Heath Brown discuss the historical social and political conditions that shaped Dals work identify the impact of Modern as well as Old Master art and present an unflinching view of the masters personal relationships and motivations With their deeply compelling narrative Isbouts and Brown uncover how Dals visual wit and enduring cult of personality still impacts fashion literature and art from Andy Warhol to Lady Gaga and seeks to answer why in an age of shock and awe Dals art still manages to distress perplex and entertain