Spanish writer known primarily as the sister and model of *Salvador Dali*, who lived from 1908 to 1989. Anna Maria's turn to literature was not driven by her brother or a desire for fame, but by a larger trauma she experienced. Although the effects of the Spanish Civil War that began in 1936 passed by Salvador (the artist was already living in Paris at the time), Anna Maria was arrested, suspected of espionage along with other family members. During her 17‑day detention, various tortures inflicted on Anna led to serious psychiatric‑neurological problems. To escape these problems and find relief, and at the urging of her friends, she turned to writing.
The writer's relationship with her brother was also quite complex and fascinating. Having spent their childhood together and being very close, Salvador and Anna Dali's intimacy is reflected in their creative work. In his early years the painter used his sister as his main model and often painted her in front of a window. One such work, "Figura en una finestra" (young woman/girl at a window), became especially famous and was included in the artist's first exhibition in 1925.
However, this pleasant relationship did not last long. In 1942 she published the autobiography "The secret life of Dali" (The secret life of Dali), which described the dark side of family life and provoked her brother's anger. Anna declared that the book did not reflect the truth and, in retaliation, released in 1949 the work "Salvador Dali as seen by her sister" (Salvador Dali as seen by her sister). Of course, the wild‑natured Salvador could not remain silent about this step. In response to the tension, the painter created a new interpretation of the portrait he had previously made of his sister – the "Figura en una finestra" piece. Inspired by one of the pornographic magazines of the era, he presented this work under the title "Young Virgin Auto‑Sodomized by the Horns of Her Own Chastity".
This painting, while serving as revenge, also fueled rumors about a possible repressed secret love and ambivalent feelings Salvador Dali might have harbored toward his sister. [1]
References
- white rabbit. «anna maria dali». Sözaltı sözlük, 01.08.2021. soz6.com