THE GREAT MASTURBATOR // 1929 // OIL ON CANVAS // 110 X 150 CM // MNCARS, MADRID
THE CENTER OF THE PAINTING HAS A HUMAN FACE IN PROFILE LOOKING DOWNWARDS, BASED ON THE SHAPE OF THE CAP DE CREUS IN CATALONIA. A FEMALE WOMAN, RESEMBLING HIS MUSE GALA, CAN BE SEEN RISING FROM THE BACK OF THE FACE'S HEAD. IT MAY BE THE MASTURBATORY FANTASY SUGGESTED BY ITS TITLE. A SWARM OF ANTS, A FIGURE OF SEXUALITY TO HIM, CAN BE SEEN IN THE FIGURE'S MOUTH. THE PAINTING MAY REPRESENT DALI'S CONFLICTING ATTITURE TOWARDS SEXUAL INTERCOURSE. IN HIS YOUTH, HIS FATHER HAD LEFT OUT A BOOK OF EXPLICIT PHOTOS OF ADVANCED AND UNTREATED VENERAL DISEASES TO 'EDUCATE' HIM. IT FASCINATED AND HORRIFIED DALI, AND HE CONTINUED ASSOCIATING SEX WITH DECAY THROUGH HIS ADULTHOOD.