The artwork titled “Catax,” created by Francis Picabia in 1929, is an oil painting on canvas belonging to the Surrealist movement and classified as figurative art. It is currently housed in the Tate Modern in London, UK.
The artwork features a complex and layered composition that invokes an ethereal and dream-like quality characteristic of Surrealism. Set against a warm, orange-toned background, the painting amalgamates multiple human faces and figures, interspersed with mystical and abstract elements. The intertwined profiles and the curious inclusion of a distorted, spike-adorned fish-like creature create a sense of fluidity and ambiguity. The presence of both botanical elements (such as white flowers) and the enigmatic gazes of the figures evoke a multifaceted narrative, leaving the viewer in a contemplative state. The application of delicate lines and subtle coloration exemplifies the finesse and the surrealistic ethos of Picabia’s artistry.
