In “Metamorphosis of Narcissus,” Spanish Surrealist Salvador Dali (1904 – 1989) interprets the Greek myth in his Paranoiac-Critical style, in which he infuses his artwork with a paranoia that causes the brain to connect things which are not otherwise rationally linked. According to Greek mythology, Narcissus falls in love with his own reflection, refusing to eat or sleep, eventually ceasing to exist and is immortalized by the gods where he sat as the purple flower which bears his name. One of the 20th century’s most innovative and influential artists, Dali believed that psychology was instrumental to the creation of art, and filled his images with symbolism and meaning that could only be mined by utilizing the subconscious mind.

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