Mythology is a fundamental phenomenon that reflects societies' cultural heritage, collective unconscious, and intercultural interaction processes as one of the oldest narrative forms in human history. Considered psychological and intellectual reflections of ancient times, myths have been among the important sources of inspiration for art and literature throughout history. In this context, examining the reflections of mythological symbols in modern art movements is important in terms of deciphering the multi-layered meaning structure of the works. The aim of this study is to analyze the mythological and symbolic elements in Salvador Dali's work “Picasso,” one of the pioneering artists of the Surrealist movement, by addressing the origins and functions of mythology in the context of modern art. The research aims to reveal how themes common to Ancient Greek, Eastern, and Western mythologies are reflected in art through Dali's unique visual language. A qualitative research method was adopted in the study. During the data collection process, art history literature, mythological texts, and the artist's theoretical approaches were examined; the data obtained were evaluated using descriptive analysis methods. Research findings indicate that the images featured in Dali's “Picasso” Portrait, such as the female figure, lute, carnation, daffodil, and ram's horn, were deliberately chosen and each carries mythological and symbolic meanings. It is evident that in this work, the artist reinterprets archetypes from classical mythology with a modern twist, referencing Picasso, and creates a multi-layered narrative that speaks to the collective unconscious. Ultimately, the study reveals that myths are not merely narratives of the past; they are an interdisciplinary phenomenon that continues to shape the intellectual structure and artistic production of modern individuals.

Mythology, Collective Unconscious, Modern Art, Salvador Dalí, Surrealism.