Who said art can’t be an adventure? At 32 Reales, we believe that surrealism is an invitation to daydream, and today we’re telling you how two geniuses—Dalí and Magritte—revolutionized our way of seeing the world.
The surrealist awakening
Since I was little, my house, decorated with the unique touch of my parents—pioneering antique dealers in Monterrey—was filled with paintings. Even so, it wasn’t until I was 12 that I stumbled upon Dalí. The soft clocks of The Persistence of Memory left me speechless. I remember how a mediocre-quality book introduced me to that work, and almost like a romantic spark (yes, love at first sight happens in art too), it captivated me with its enigmatic blend of shadows, strokes, and, of course, ants!
What was Dalí telling us?
That “intact” clock amidst the melting symbolizes the relentless passage of time and inevitable decay, while the others dissolve into memory, bringing with them the magic of the dreamlike. It’s no wonder that years later, at MoMA, having the chance to see it in person felt like reuniting with an old love—though one feels small in the face of such genius.
And as if that weren’t enough, in 1954 Dalí surprised us again with The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory, a work of almost identical dimensions but, for me, with an even deeper charm. Is it an evolution or a new statement of intent? The debate lingers in every brushstroke!
Magritte: the subtle rival of surrealism
But as in any good love story (and heartbreak), the time came to broaden horizons. A curious anecdote: a teacher, whose name now fades from memory, dropped the surrealist bombshell and recommended Magritte. And wow, did it work. His style—less dreamy but just as provocative—reinterprets reality with a wit that defies all logic. Daytime landscapes that are also nighttime? Scenes where reality and objects intertwine? Of course, but his true genius lies in how he questions the visible and invites us to see beyond the surface.
Both artists, each in their own way, broke the mold: Dalí with his natural talent that convinced the world of his greatness, and Magritte with his effort to show a reinvented reality. Who wins in a duel of geniuses? The answer is as blurry as the line between dream and wakefulness.
The legacy
For me, true art is that which, no matter the time, invites us to look again. Both Dalí and Magritte achieved this: a beauty that reinvents itself over the years and becomes part of our personal and collective history. And though my tastes fluctuate between Dalí’s vibrant colors and Magritte’s visual enigmas, the truth is that both continue to captivate generations.
Plus, we can’t forget that these two giants were the gateway to a surrealist universe that includes names like Carrington, Varo, and even artists who, long before the term was coined, showed us the impossible. Thus, surrealism becomes an endless journey through imagination and a passion for art.
And you, who do you prefer?
We invite you to explore, feel, and above all, question. Because in art, as in love, the important thing is to enjoy the journey without having to choose a definitive winner.
