Shirley Temple: Salvador Dalí's Surrealist Critique of Cinema
In 1939, the master of Surrealism, Salvador Dalí, created one of his most provocative commentaries on fame and the film industry. Titled Shirley Temple, The Youngest, Most Sacred Monster of the Cinema in Her Time (also known as the Barcelona Sphinx), this work blends the innocence of a child star with the predatory nature of a mythical beast, challenging the viewer's perception of celebrity.
Key Facts
- Artist: Salvador Dalí
- Year: 1939
- Medium: Gouache, pastel, and collage on cardboard
- Current Location: Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
- Dimensions: 75 cm × 100 cm (30 in × 39 in)
- Core Theme: A satire on the sexualization of child stars in Hollywood
Artistic Composition and Symbolism
The artwork is a complex mix of media, utilizing gouache (an opaque watercolor), pastel, and collage. Dalí employs a surrealist approach by superimposing a newspaper photograph of the child star Shirley Temple onto the body of a red lioness. This hybrid creature, resembling a sphinx, is depicted with breasts and white claws, creating a jarring contrast between childhood and adult biological markers.
Adding to the eerie atmosphere, a vampire bat perches atop Temple's head. The scene is further darkened by the presence of a human skull and various bones surrounding the sphinx, which serve as grim suggestions of a recent kill. At the base of the composition, Dalí includes a trompe-l'œil label—an art technique used to create an optical illusion of three-dimensionality—which reads: "Shirley!. at last in Technicolor."
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Historical Context and Exhibition
The piece first debuted in New York at the Julien Levy Gallery from March 21 to April 18, 1939. While the official exhibition catalogue omitted the work, its presence was confirmed by a report in The New York Times.
Over the decades, the Barcelona Sphinx has been featured in several prestigious exhibitions, including shows at the Palau Reial de Pedralbes (1983) and the CaixaForum (2004) in Barcelona, as well as the Palais des Beaux Arts in Charleroi (1985). Most notably, it was part of the "Dalí and Film" exhibition at the Tate Modern in London from June 1 to September 9, 2007, alongside approximately 100 other works by the artist.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Artist | Salvador Dalí |
| Creation Year | 1939 |
| Materials | Gouache, pastel, and collage on cardboard |
| Dimensions | 75 cm × 100 cm |
| Current Home | Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning behind the painting?
The artwork is widely interpreted as a satire on the sexualization of child stars by the Hollywood studio system during the 1930s.
What does the term "trompe-l'œil" refer to in this piece?
Trompe-l'œil is a French term meaning "deceive the eye." In this painting, it refers to the realistic label at the bottom that appears to be a physical part of the artwork.
Where can the painting be seen today?
The artwork is housed at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam.
What materials did Dalí use for this work?
Dalí used a combination of gouache, pastel, and collage elements on a cardboard base.
Why is it called the Barcelona Sphinx?
It is an alternative name for the piece, referring to the sphinx-like body of the red lioness that Dalí used to represent Shirley Temple.