Dali does not use images like many artists do. Since his paintings reflect many aspects of himself, the images that he puts into his works are what convey the inner workings of his mind. His images are the physical manifestations of his conscious desires and fears, putting them out for the whole world to see. The two most intimate examples of this are his use of the crutch and androgynous figures. They both relate to his sexual life with his wife- both his desires and his fears. Like the rest of Salvador Dali’s life, he portrays such basic emotions through the new use of a household object. Though the actual objects and figures in his paintings could be considered images, because of what they represent they are really and truly physical manifestations.

 

The Persistence of Memory. 1931. Salvador Dali.