The lightbulb was a heavily significant event. With its invention, people could see brighter at night without risking a fire with their kerosene lamp. It also meant that corporations could make their employees work for longer hours, receiving more product and economic benefits. Dali uses the symbolization of the lightbulb as transcendent and almost heavenly, with a golden eagle towering over it. Sparking great ideas and reverence.
This work is part of the "Hommage a Leonardo da Vinci" portfolio (Great Inventions), which is full of Dalí's fantastical creations made as a sincere and very personal tribute to the artists Renaissance idol, Leonardo da Vinci. The suite of 12 original engravings, combined with colour by pochoir and etchings, compels art-lovers across the globe to reflect on the many achievements of both masters. The two artists shared many interests including their passion for not only fine art, but a variety of scientific topics, including physics, engineering, and arithmetic. Their dynamic, multi-faceted personalities pushed them to undertake an abundance of creative projects, many of which diverge from artist inquiry and instead centre around invention and innovation.