Which artist is associated with using insects to symbolize decay in his work?

Which artist is associated with using insects to symbolize decay in his work?

• A. Pablo Picasso
• B. Salvador Dalí
• C. Vincent van Gogh
• D. Claude Monet

Answer: (B)

Insects appear as signals of decay and mortality in art, and Salvador Dalí frequently used ants and other insects to convey decomposition and the erosion of form and value within his Surrealist imagery. These insect motifs recur across his work, reinforcing themes of time, decay, and transformation that underpin much of his striking imagery. Among the artists listed, this insect-decay symbolism is most closely associated with Dalí, while Picasso, van Gogh, and Monet are better known for other motifs and styles—Cubist reconfigurations, expressive brushwork and color, or atmospheric impressions of light and landscape, respectively.

Insects appear as signals of decay and mortality in art, and Salvador Dalí frequently used ants and other insects to convey decomposition and the erosion of form and value within his Surrealist imagery. These insect motifs recur across his work, reinforcing themes of time, decay, and transformation that underpin much of his striking imagery. Among the artists listed, this insect-decay symbolism is most closely associated with Dalí, while Picasso, van Gogh, and Monet are better known for other motifs and styles—Cubist reconfigurations, expressive brushwork and color, or atmospheric impressions of light and landscape, respectively.