Modern rhapsody

As you know, the term "rhapsody" means a piece of music based on a folk tale. One version of the interpretation of the symbolism of this painting, written by Dali in 1957, is associated with criticism of US policy. The woman is surprisingly reminiscent of the heroine of the painting "American Progress," written by John Gast in 1872. This picture is an allegory for the political course of US expansion to the west. The woman pictured by Gast personifies progress, extending the telegraph line and granting civilization to the wild west.

Dali also makes her defenseless or even charmed in the face of a technological monster, blinding with a beam directed from the searchlight eye and entwining with telephone wires growing instead of eyelashes. Drop-down fabric exposes the female figure, adding fragility and sexuality to it.

The monster's body is a film camera looking at this sexuality. In the Dali symbol dictionary, apparatus means decaying matter. In the picture, it is contrasted with life-filled human nature. Burning giraffes appear in the background - the famous symbol of war. Canvas"Giraffe on fire" was completed by the artist in 1937 and is one of his most outstanding creations. By the way, the foreground of this work also depicts a woman holding out her hands.

Probably, the artist draws in his imagination frightening pictures of the possible development of events in connection with US international politics. As you know, in 1957 the world saw the Eisenhower Doctrine, declaring the provision of military and economic assistance to the countries of the Middle East, faced with the threat of communism.