I was asked to conduct a comparative analysis of two distinct works of art that were created
during two different stylistic periods. My goal is to identify a common theme between them. The first
piece I selected is
The Nightmare,
painted by Henry Fuseli in 1784. Henry was a Swiss-English artist
who was a part of the Romanticism movement. He was characterized by rebellion and a strong sense of
individuality. This painting was created on an oil canvas measuring 121 x 147.3 cm. Currently, the art is
on display at the Detroit Institute of Art's European Collection.
The second art selected is
Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee around a Pomegranate a Second
Before Waking,
painted by Spanish artist Salvador Dali in 1944. He painted this in the United States, and
it belongs to the Surrealism movement. This oil on panel measures 51 x 41 cm. Currently, it is on
display at the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, Spain.
Two common themes run through both works: individuality and subjectivity. According to
Freudian theory, dreams represent our unconscious motives and desires. Despite Fuseli's darker
approach to the Romanticism movement, he still interprets a dream. Dali’s painting was intended to
provoke viewers to contemplate how easily a dream can be interpreted which circles back to how one
interprets Dali’s work.
