Salvador Dali is one of the most famous artists in the world. Not only did he have the sheer artistic talent to create marvelous images using the medium of oil painting, but it was his ability to integrate numerous art movements seamlessly into his vision and help bridge the styles of the early twentieth century into what became our idea of modern art.
The popularity of his art seems to be unwavering with the changes in styles and trends. These images fit into our concepts of timeless beauty because they reference arguably the most beloved artists of all time, Renaissance painters such as Da Vinci and Michelangelo, with such technically proficient realism. Yet Dali's images are derived using the context of the surrealism movement, which add layers of emotional complexity.
Surrealism, a historically important art movement of the early 20th century, created a style that mixed art and the rising importance of psychology. It delved into the subconscious and sought to find meaning in dreams and the internal psychosis of the mind. This sort of art touches upon academic fields such as, psychiatry, history, photography, science, and playfully references popular culture. Dali's art can lighten up a room, but also give the viewer something to contemplate and continually stare at. 
Take for instance, the popular print of "Cinquenta... Tigre Real," painted circa 1963 by Dali. This image, an exercise in abstract painting, geometric painting and popular art, blends painted square panels into a repeated image of Soviet Union leader Lenin, which seen from a distance becomes a reference on a communist Chinese personage, and upon further viewing as a whole the overall painting becomes the head of tiger. It's a striking image, a subliminal political commentary perhaps; yet it is also a maze, a puzzle to be solved. At it's core it's a visually appealing complex image with beautiful colors, depth and a playful composition. It has the aesthetic structure that could define a decorative style for a whole room, due to it's checkered pattern and gold color.
Salvador Dali is one of the 20th century's most important art figures and an unforgettable personality. His art walked the fine line between high culture and commercialism. Its the perfect marriage of what is deep and evocative and the manufactured cool of pop culture.
