Purgatory Canto 31

Description of Art: Purgatory Canto 31 depicts the climactic moment in Dante’s journey when he undergoes emotional and spiritual purification in the presence of Beatrice. Dalí conveys this upheaval through a composition where elongated, fluid figures seem to dissolve into radiant washes of amber, rose, and ultramarine. The central form bends with a gesture of remorse or revelation, while atmospheric gradients evoke both the celestial garden and the internal transformation of the soul.

Dalí’s interpretation blends the mystical solemnity of Dante’s narrative with his own surreal sensibility—figures appear weightless, suspended between confession and transcendence. The wood-engraving process, with its precise linework and delicate shading, enhances the sense of ritual and spiritual cleansing at the heart of the canto.