The Paranoid-Critical Method

Reading activity

Dalì himself developed the so-called paranoid-critical method, in order to paint without the control of reason and to let subconscious topics spring in the artwork.

Create 8 groups of 3-4 students

Read these two webpages

Paranoid critical method, provided by Tufts University (MA) - Programme of M.A. (Master of Arts) in Art History

(groups 1-4). This text focuses more on the cultural context, and on the importance of Freud and psychoanalysis.

Salvador Dali - The Paranoid Critical Transformation Method, provided by Humboldt State University (CA) - Art in the HSU Library

(groups 5-8). This text focuses more on style and technical features, comparing Dalì to other ancient and modern painters.

A Portrait of Sigmund Freud

A satyrical portrait of Sigmund Freud

Max Ernst, The Forest, 1927, Cologne, Musée Ludwig

Leonardo da Vinci, Old man's head, ink drawing on paper (the shading comes from a spot on the paper, which suggested the figure)

Discuss and report

Discuss the text and the images with your group.

Writing activity: create a summary (max 3 lines) of Dalì’s method

Report to the class