What is 'The Ship' by Salvador Dali about?

Answer 1

You can see the left foot as sense, right as will and desires. If you have both feet in line and working together you have stability.

If your desires takes over, then you might be taken by the wind.Wind can be seen as life flow, you can have tailwind or headwind. If feet are off the ground wind can take you where it pleases…wind could signify other peoples desires, need for power or domination, wishes, glory etc.

You can easily just drift through your life with no control or sense of self - not living at all simply doing what pleases others.

Clothing could be our values, prejudices, beliefs, outlooks on life.

The person in the picture is androgynous, the breasts and torso of a woman, but the face, arms, and legs of a man. So the ship has the physical strength of a man, and the sensitivity and nurturing ability of the female. Perhaps this could signify that as we journey through life in an attempt to be an individual we must have the strength of a man and sensitivity of a woman.

just my thoughts.

Answer 2

I have heard it said " in response to James Joyce ,Dali painted Ulysses tied to the mast to avoid the sirens "