The painter, sculptor, writer, director, and all other elements of spectacle Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) was one of the greatest eccentrics and artists of the 20th century. As one of the first artists to apply the knowledge of Freudian psychoanalysis in art, he is particularly celebrated for his surrealistic practice, with elements such as soft clocks or the lobster telephone, which are now trademarks of surrealism and modernism in general. Dalí often described his paintings as “hand-painted dream photographs.” Their captivating tension and intrigue stem from the precise depiction of bizarre elements and incongruous arrangements. As he himself explained, he painted with “the most imperialist fury of precision,” only “to systematize confusion and to help completely dismantle the world of reality.” By revolutionizing the role of the artist, Dalí had the intuition to project a controversial public persona, creating works through print, fashion, advertising, writing, and cinema that could be consumed and not just viewed on a gallery wall. This book explores both Dalí's painting and personality, introducing his technical skills as well as his provocative compositions and the challenging themes of death, decay, and eroticism.