About Style Imitating Art
Style Imitating Art is a group collaboration between Salazar, Terri, and Shelbee. Please make sure you visit each blog to see their SIA looks. Style Imitating Art challenges people to find inspiration in different art works and create outfits based upon that art work. Every other Monday one of them selects an inspiration piece of art and posts the image on their blog. They then invite others to interpret that art work through their style. The following Monday, they share their outfits. The curator shares submissions the following Wednesday on her blog. Shelbee chose this week’s challenge. Please visit all three as they have posted their interpretations on Monday. Please check Shelbee’s blog on Wednesday for the round up! You can see a few of my looks here, here, here, and here!
Inspiration Art Work
About the art work
I usually don’t write much about the art work itself, but this particular one needs a bit of “interpretation”. If you look closely at the painting, you’re going to see a lot! One of the most interesting things about this painting are the 28 appearances of the sculpture, Venus de Milo. Again, looking closely, you’ll see the face and part of the upper torso of the matador in the second Venus. Examine the painting again, and you’ll see the slain bull with its blood seeping into a pool in the lower left where it becomes a bay complete with a yellow life raft. Placed diagonally from each other are a young boy and the face of a woman. The young boy supposedly represents the young Salvador Dali; the woman’s head is his wife, Gala. The entire artwork signifies his wife’s distaste for bullfighting. You can read so much more here!
About the artist
Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dali i Domenech, Marquess of Dali of Pubol, aka Salvador Dali, was born in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain. I think it’s interesting that Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain. Dali was a pretty autonomous person when you think about it! He was born nine months after the death of his older brother, also named Salvador, on May 11, 1904. At one point, Dali’s father, Salvador Luca Rafael Aniceto Dali Cusi, told him he was the reincarnation of his dead older brother. Dali’s mother, Felipa Domènech Ferrés, died when he was 16 years old and rendered him inconsolable. His father, who must have been quite the character also, married his sister-in-law! Dali attended the Municipal Drawing School at Figueres in 1916. During these years, he came across the artistic movements of Futurism and Cubism. In 1922, Dali moved to Madrid and studied at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (San Fernando Academy of Fine Arts). While there, Dali became known for his personal style…long hair and sideburns, coat, stockings and knee breeches reminiscent of the English style of the late nineteenth century.
A little more…
Two important events occurred in 1926. Dali left the Academy and went to Paris where he met Pablo Picasso. As his style evolved, Dali drew inspiration from many different artists and artistic movements…among them Joan Miró i Ferrà and Yves Tanguy. Dali was also influenced by Sigmund Freud’s works, specifically dreams and sexuality. In 1928, Dali submitted “Dialogue on the Beach,” but the art work was rejected because it was considered too explicit for public display. By this time, Dali was firmly in the Surrealist movement. Rather than try to explain surrealism, I’m going to give you a couple of links (here and here).
Even more…
Dali was a prolific artist…after a stay at Coco Chanel’s home, “La Pausa” in Roquebrune on the French Riviera in 1938, he exhibited twenty-one paintings and eleven drawings at the Julien Levy Gallery in New York. By 1939, Dali had irritated the leaders of the Surrealist movement so much they expelled him from the group. There are conflicting opinions about his expulsion, but one reason put forth is his seeming support of Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco. Dali moved to the United States in 1938 and remained there until 1948. During that time, Dali amassed a fortune ($30 million). In 1949, Andre Breton, leader of the Surrealist group, created the anagram, Avida Dollars (Greedy for Dollars), as he saw Dali selling out for commercial gain. Dali actually loved the nickname (source)!
A strange collaboration?
In 1945, Dali and Disney…probably two names you never thought to put together…joined forces to create a short film. Dali worked with John Hench, a Disney studio artist, to create storyboards for the film. Unfortunately, money woes caused the project to stop. In 1999, Roy Disney discovered the venture and decided to complete it. He gave it to Walt Disney Studios Paris where approximately 25 animators worked to figure out both Dali’s and Hench’s storyboards. They also used Gala’s journals and consulted with Hench himself. The short film premiered in 2003 in France, was nominated for the Academy Award for Animated Short Film of 2003, and had a limited release in 2004. It can be found many places, including here! I think it’s hauntingly beautiful.
And, more…
In 1929, Salvador Dali met his artistic muse, the wife of Paul Éluard. Elena Ivanovna Diakonova, known more commonly as Gala, was a Russian immigrant ten years older than Dali. Gala left her husband and lived with Dali from then on. The two married in a civil ceremony in 1934. They remarried in a Catholic ceremony in 1958 after receiving a papal dispensation (due to her divorce). Gala died in 1982. Following her death, Dali suffered from depression, exhibited signs of Parkinson’s, and was severely burned in a house fire in 1984. He had a pacemaker implanted in 1986. He entered the hospital in November, 1988 and was visited by King Juan Carlos on December 5, 1988. Dali presented the king with Head of Europa, believed to be his last drawing. Salvador Dali died January 23, 1989 of cardiac arrest.
My interpretation
I was completely flummoxed by this challenge! I knew of Salvador Dali (mainly this piece), but I had no idea what to do with The Hallucinogenic Toreador! I decided to do what I usually do…let the clothes speak to me! Rather than focusing on the main colors of red and green on the right side of the painting, I went with the array of colors on the left side. My palazzo pants (seen here) mimic the dots and flies as well as the softer color palette. I chose a black tank because I normally would go with white. Unknowingly, that also mirrors the shadowing of the toreador’s face. In my closet, the jacket “went” with the pants! In the photos? Not so much! Ah, well! I am loving this belt and wondering why I hadn’t bought one earlier! These pants are so long! I’ve actually doubled over the waistband and covered it with the belt!
The Lewk!
I wore these espadrilles because of the length of the pants (even with the waistband doubled over). I wanted to go with very little jewelry as the pants are the stars! The stone bracelet and earrings are old and from J Jill. The coil bracelet is Stella & Dot. My tank top is probably a dozen years old and is from Talbots (similar). The denim jacket is also from J Jill (similar). Unfortunately, I can’t find a link to my palazzo pants at this time!
Affiliate links and such:
Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. I recently became a Brand Ambassador for Sarah Flint shoes. You can use SARAHFLINT-BAMARSHA for $50 off your first pair. As of right now, I also have an affiliate code for Kantha Bae! Use MarshaintheMiddle in the promo code box for $5 off any order (excluding Bestie restocks)! In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I really hate when Nigel says this, but I’m going to say it anyway! I’m going to be honest with you. I’m not a fan of Salvador Dali. And, after reading about his connections to Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco, I’m even less a fan. So, can we talk? Are you a fan of Surrealism, Dadaism, or Futurism? How do you think I met the challenge? Please leave a comment or two, and we can talk! Let’s start a conversation about the weirdness of Dali’s art (or not weirdness if you like it)!
Thank you!
I really need to thank each and every one of my subscribers. Trust me when I say there are moments when I feel like skipping a post or two. But, I, somehow or other, always seem to have something to say! And, it’s because of you that I feel I need to push through the self-doubt and create something! If you’d like to share my blog with others, I’d really appreciate it! You can also find me on Instagram here.
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, Being a Wordsmith, and Mummabstylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I’m also a co-host on the Weekend Traffic Jam (here). And, of course, you can now find me here on the last Friday of the month! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I also co-host Final Friday Print Mixing with Michelle on the last Friday of the month. I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
You know, us Brits are always complaining about the weather but we really know nothing as it’s all mild weather with a lot of rain – wait until the end of the week when our temperatures are likely to rise to 30C (86F) and a bit above. It’s only going to last a couple of days and then it’ll be cooler. The thing is we don’t have air con in our homes, and the heat is quite humid, so we complain! Honestly I couldn’t live with the high temps you get. My Scottish ancestry has me loving cold weather, cool winds and mists!
Love this post with all the info on Dali and what lovely outfit, but yes, guess you’ll be needing a very cool outfit shortly. Have a great rest of the week and be cool!!!
Oh, Penny, I would melt into a puddle if we didn’t have AC! The northern part of my state had a derecho (hurricane strength winds) Monday night which has left many without power. If we were still up there, we’d just light candles and sit in the basement and play games, I suppose! I think I have some Scots blood in me…I’ll have to check that out…I love cold weather and blustery winds!
Dali is not exactly my cup of tea, but learning about him was fascinating!
Marsha, you did a wonderful job with translating that piece into fashion. Thanks for the art lesson as well. Stay cool.
Rena
http://www.finewhateverblog.com
Thanks, Rena! We had “real feel” temps in the lower 100s today! But, we’ve been mainly in the house packing.
I’m glad you enjoyed the look and the art lesson. I just have to write something more than what I’m wearing, you know?
Dali can be very dark so your sweet take on this work is perfect for me. That skirt is really pretty Marsha! Thanks for the background on this art.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thanks, Kathrine! I had no idea how dark until I started researching, but I already had my photos done. I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
First of all, Marsha, this outfit is brilliant! I freaking adore these pants! And I think the jacket works great with them even if the color is a little different. I am not a fan of too matchy-matchy anyway! I really enjoyed reading the information about Dali that you chose to focus on. I am glad you covered the Disney collaboration! I read that in my research and didn’t include it because I was getting tired of writing but now I am going to watch the short film, for sure! There is so much information about him. And I find it all intriguing even the unsettling things. But I also am not a huge fan of his work. It bothers me for some reason. Maybe it’s supposed to and that’s the whole point of surrealism!
Shelbee
Honestly, as I was watching the Disney film, I kept thinking of The Wall by Pink Floyd…it has those same vibes. There really is so much information about Dali…more, it seems, than other artists! I was getting tired and just kinda cut it short when it came to his relationship with his wife. I did think she may have been onto something when she required him to request to visit her in writing…hahaha! Before this, I had no idea surrealism was rooted in politics. That makes it even more interesting to me. And, his work is very troublesome…you may be right…it’s supposed to bother us!
I’m glad you like the outfit. I love these pants, but I never seem to be brave enough to wear them out and about because they’re so flowy and so long! I need to pull up my big girl pants (literally) and wear them!!!
Thanks for coming by!
Those palazzo pants are perfect for this challenge and definitely remind me of that repeating pattern in the painting as well as the colors.
Thanks, Joanne! I thought they really worked well for the challenge!
Another great outfit Marsha, and exactly why I love belts more and more. They are just more then a pretty addition to a look.
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks, Jodie! I used to wear belts all of the time, and then I quit…no reason for it! I guess it’s the ebb and flow of belts, right?
I love how you pulled the softer pinks out of this painting for your look, Marsha! So pretty and breezy- a great summery combo!
-Ashley
Thanks, Ashley! I don’t have a lot of those darker colors readily available as we are packing to move! But, the softer colors spoke to me more anyway!
Thanks for coming by!
A great interpretation of the art. You know I love the palazzo pants. The pale pink is so pretty.
I’m not a Dali fan. His stuff is weird and disturbing.
I wasn’t a Dali fan when I started and I’m still not! But, the palazzo pants are fabulous! I wish I looked half as good in the Kantha as you do!
Thanks for coming by!
Great job taking notice of the left side of the painting. The use of pinks and black was a. Rilliant move. It made me go back and take another look at the work.
I honestly have most of my closet packed up and the other colors would be in boxes only God knows where! Truthfully, the spots on the left side did speak to me more than the Toreador…strange, right?
You look fabulous. And the art is amazing.
Annie
Annies Food Diary
Thanks! It is amazing and a little weird all at the same time!
You look stunning in this outfit honey! Wonderful Post! Have a great day!
Rampdiary | Fineartandyou | Beautyandfashionfreaks
Thanks so much!!
Your interpretation is spot on! Those pants are fabulous! Love how you pulled this look together!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks, Jill! Sometimes, you just have to listen to the clothes, right?
Dali’s work always needs a bit of interpretation! There is a lot to discuss with this one! It’s an interesting starting point for an outfit for sure! I think your soft pink tones are a great idea. I would have no idea what to do! But I love the outfit you created.
Thanks, Laura! I actually thought there was more pink in the picture when I was putting this look together! Honestly, this is only the second of his works I’ve ever paid much attention. Although I did rather like the video.
Job well done, Marsha! These colors are so pretty and soft, great outfit on you!
xo,
Kellyann
Thanks so much, Kellyann! It was a bit of a stretch, but I think it ended up working well!
Marsha, I was flummoxed by this painting too. Your interpretation is perfect, and a really cute outfit to boot! I’m impressed with how much you were able to detect in the painting. I will admit that after I focused on the vanquished bull, I quit looking. I’m with Dali’s wife on this one.
The thing that I think is remarkable about Dali, in addition to all the things mentioned, is that he was actually famous and able to become wealthy from his talent while he was still alive.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
OK…time for the truth. In my head, I saw lots of swirling pink when I thought of the painting so I came up with this outfit. When I looked at the picture again, I thought, “Oh, crap!” But, then I noticed the left side and realized maybe my subconscious has picked up on that and led me to my outfit! I really had to look to see the bull and didn’t really see it until I was doing my research long after the photos were taken.
I was shocked to discover just how much money he made! I don’t think even Warhol made that kind of money…though I’d have to google it!!
Thanks, Michelle!
There was a Salvador Dali in Figures, Spain a little over an hour from where we lived. I don’t know if we ever visited it but just the outside of the museum was quite a statement. I am glad you are finding different ways to wear your pants.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks, Mireille! I’m not sure if I would spend the money to actually go into a Salvador Dali museum. He’s just not to my taste! But, seeing the outside would be free and probably fun! I love these pants but struggle with exactly how to wear them!
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