6 paintings from the 20th century that use phallic imagery or symbolism.

"The Elephants" by Salvador Dalí (1948)

• Salvador Dalí's "The Elephants" is a surrealist masterpiece that features long-legged, elongated elephants with spindly legs supporting obelisks on their backs. The phallic symbolism is evident in the towering obelisks, which represent masculine potency and power. The painting reflects Dalí's fascination with Freudian psychoanalysis and his exploration of subconscious desires and fears.

1. "Guernica" by Pablo Picasso (1937)

   • "Guernica" is one of Pablo Picasso's most famous works, created in response to the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. While not overtly phallic, the painting's central imagery of a bull and a screaming horse can be interpreted as symbols of male aggression and domination. The bull's horn, in particular, may evoke phallic connotations, representing violence and brutality.

2. "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dalí (1931)

   • Another iconic work by Salvador Dalí, "The Persistence of Memory" features melting clocks draped over various objects in a barren landscape. While not explicitly phallic, the drooping, elongated forms of the clocks and other objects evoke a sense of softness and fluidity that can be interpreted as suggestive of sexual desire or the passage of time.

3. "The Great Masturbator" by Salvador Dalí (1929)

   • "The Great Masturbator" is a surrealistic self-portrait by Salvador Dalí that incorporates various phallic symbols and sexual imagery. The painting features a grotesque, distorted figure with elongated limbs and a phallic form protruding from its forehead, representing sexual anxiety and obsession. The work reflects Dalí's fascination with Freudian psychoanalysis and his exploration of the unconscious mind.

4. "Composition with Red, Yellow, and Blue" by Piet Mondrian (1930)

   • Piet Mondrian's abstract painting "Composition with Red, Yellow, and Blue" features geometric shapes arranged in a grid-like pattern. While not explicitly depicting phallic imagery, the painting's emphasis on straight lines, bold colors, and balanced composition can evoke a sense of order and structure that may be interpreted as phallic symbolism, representing strength, stability, and masculinity.

5. "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Pablo Picasso (1907)

   • Although created at the turn of the 20th century, "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Pablo Picasso is considered a seminal work of modern art that anticipates the developments of the 20th century. The painting depicts five nude female figures in a brothel setting, with angular, disjointed forms and mask-like faces. While not overtly phallic, the painting's depiction of sexuality and primal energy can be interpreted as containing elements of phallic symbolism, representing desire, power, and confrontation.