Student Artwork Guide — Surrealist Composition II

Name Class Date

Oscar Dominguez, Surrealist Composition II. Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist: Oscar Dominguez originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/oscar-dominguez/
Artist’s dates: 1906 – 1957

Copyright This work is still under copyright. Oscar Dominguez died in 1957; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2027. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Surrealist Composition II — Oscar Dominguez

When might this have been painted?

1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 51 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Oscar Dominguez (1906–1957) every dated painting, decade by decade

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Woman 1 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/oscar-dominguez-woman-1-8LT389-en/
Red bicicle originaluniqueart.com/en/art/oscar-dominguez-red-bicicle-8LT34B-en/
Journey's End II originaluniqueart.com/en/art/oscar-dominguez-journey-s-end-ii-8LT33K-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/oscar-dominguez-surrealist-composition-ii-8LT35L-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Black #1a1314

Catalogued palette

#1A1314
#A37E6A
#E5C29C
#58463B

These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

Palette: Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
Main colour name: Black
Intensity: Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Balanced Harmony How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

Where in the world is this painting looked at?

under 1%
1–3%
3–8%
8–20%
20% and over

This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Oscar Dominguez over the last twelve months — 6 countries in all. Where these figures come from

The ten leading countries

1 China 89.4%4,200 visits
2 Argentina 2.1%100 visits
3 Ireland 2.1%100 visits
4 Poland 2.1%100 visits
5 Portugal 2.1%100 visits
6 United States of America 2.1%100 visits

Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

The 20 most looked-at works by Oscar Dominguez

1 The Hantée house 8.2%500 visits
2 Journey's End II 3.3%200 visits
3 The bulldozer and the Rose 3.3%200 visits
4 Grisou 1 3.3%200 visits
5 untitled (9244) 3.3%200 visits
6 Women with boxes of sardines 3.3%200 visits
7 The Clown 3.3%200 visits
8 The Lion lightning 3.3%200 visits
9 The red table 1.6%100 visits
10 Woman 1 1.6%100 visits
11 Head of a bull 1.6%100 visits
12 The smoker I 1.6%100 visits
13 Electro-sexual Sewing Machine 1.6%100 visits
14 untitled (7835) 1.6%100 visits
15 The Great Surrealist at work 1.6%100 visits
16 Still life with rooster or The three-legged hen 1.6%100 visits
17 Yellow Bike 1.6%100 visits
18 Portrait of Roma 1.6%100 visits
19 The safety pin 1.6%100 visits
— Surrealist Composition II this painting 0.0%0 visits

Together these works take 48.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 253 works by this artist, of which 50 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

Artist

Oscar Dominguez

Born in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain

Oscar Dominguez: A Life in Surrealism

Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

Oscar M. Domínguez, a Spanish surrealist painter, was born on January 3, 1906, in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. His early life was significantly marked by a serious illness that affected his physical growth, leading to a progressive deformation of his facial bone structure and limbs. This experience profoundly influenced his artistic expression, imbuing it with a sense of fragility and the uncanny.

Artistic Evolution and Influences

Domínguez devoted himself to painting at a young age. At 21, he moved to Paris, immersing himself in the vibrant art scene. He initially worked in the central market of Les Halles while frequenting cabarets at night. This period was crucial for his artistic development as he attended art schools, visited galleries and museums, and drew inspiration from avant-garde painters like Yves Tanguy and Pablo Picasso. His early work showed a clear progression towards abstraction and experimentation with form.

Embracing Surrealism

In 1933, Domínguez met André Breton, the leading theoretician of Surrealism, and poet Paul Éluard. This encounter proved pivotal, solidifying his commitment to the surrealist movement. He actively participated in several key exhibitions, including those held in Copenhagen (1934), London, and Tenerife (1936). His work began to explore themes of dreams, subconscious desires, and the irrational.

Notable Works and Artistic Style

Domínguez developed a distinctive style characterized by dreamlike imagery, distorted forms, and innovative techniques. He is particularly known for his use of decalcomania – a technique involving pressing paint between two surfaces to create unexpected textures and patterns. Some of his most celebrated works include:

The Infernal Machine (1937): This painting achieved significant recognition, selling for 2,770,000 FF (US $404,375) at auction in 2000.

Roma's Portrait (1933): Another highly valued work, sold for £902,500 (US $1,469,270) at Christie’s in London in 2014.

Personal Life and Tragic End

Domínguez began a passionate affair with Marie-Laure de Noailles in 1952, who affectionately called him “Putchie.” Sadly, his life was cut short when he committed suicide by slitting his wrists on December 31, 1957. Marie-Laure arranged for his interment in the Bischoffsheim family mausoleum at the Montparnasse Cemetery.

Legacy and Historical Significance

Today, Oscar Domínguez’s works are held in numerous museums and private collections worldwide. His legacy as a Spanish surrealist painter continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts alike. He is remembered for his unique contribution to the movement, particularly his innovative use of decalcomania and his exploration of psychological themes. His work offers a compelling glimpse into the anxieties and fascinations of the interwar period.

Where to read more

The artist Oscar Dominguez originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/oscar-dominguez/
Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/oscar-dominguez-surrealist-composition-ii-8LT35L-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for Surrealist Composition II

originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/oscar-dominguez-surrealist-composition-ii-8LT35L-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: Dominguez, Oscar. Surrealist Composition II. n.d., https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/oscar-dominguez-surrealist-composition-ii-8LT35L-en/
APA: Dominguez, Oscar (n.d.). Surrealist Composition II [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/oscar-dominguez-surrealist-composition-ii-8LT35L-en/
Chicago: Oscar Dominguez. Surrealist Composition II. n.d. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/oscar-dominguez-surrealist-composition-ii-8LT35L-en/
Harvard: Dominguez, Oscar (n.d.) Surrealist Composition II. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/oscar-dominguez-surrealist-composition-ii-8LT35L-en/

Surrealist Composition II — Oscar Dominguez

Look closely

Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
Our catalogue files this work under: composition. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
Look back at Woman 1, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
What might the artist have wanted you to feel?

Your response

Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

Questions & Answers

Does "Surrealist Composition II" by Oscar Dominguez use strong contrasts or soft harmonies?

The color composition of "Surrealist Composition II" by Oscar Dominguez combines a statement contrast with a balanced harmony harmony.

Is there a slideshow for "Surrealist Composition II" by Oscar Dominguez?

The diaporama of "Surrealist Composition II" can be watched on the artwork's Diaporama page.

Can I examine "Surrealist Composition II" in more detail?

"Surrealist Composition II" can be examined layer by layer on the artwork's X-Ray page, a viewer inspired by a conservator's light bench with eleven optical readings of the image.