The Hallucinogenic Toreador
(1969-70)
Oil on canvas
157 x 118 inches

This painting can be viewed as the most comprehensive, single retrospective painting of Dali's career. It incorporates elements from Dali's Catalan culture, his religious upbringing, and many other specific elements of his life. Dali conceived the idea for this painting while in an art supply store. In the body of Venus, on a box of pencils of that brand name, he saw the face of the toreador. This is a double image painting that repeats the image of the Venus de Milo several times in such a way that the shadows form the features of a toreador.