The crown of the façade, which is similar to a dragon’s back, along with the four-armed cross (representing the handle of a sword), have led to popular interpretations revolving around the legend of Saint George, the patron saint of Catalonia. Legend has it that Saint George killed the dragon with his sword to save the princess and the people from the animal’s wrath. Based on this interpretation, the roof’s design symbolises a sword embedded in the dragon, and the bone-shaped columns commemorate its victims. In fact, throughout history, Casa Batlló has been known as the house of bones or the house of the dragon.
Others interpret it as an aquatic landscape, evoking Monet’s series of oil paintings, The Water Lilies, as a result of the colourful coating of ceramic glaze and fragments of broken glass. Another genius, Salvador Dalí, agrees with this marine interpretation:
“Gaudí drew inspiration for the house from the shapes of the sea, representing waves on a calm day. A true sculpture of the reflection of the twilight clouds on the water, from which shapes of extensive water emerge, shapes of water that stretches out, shapes of still water, shapes of shimmering water and shapes of water ripples caused by the wind.”
Gaudí himself never explained his work and he worked on the façade from the outside, without specific plans, something which was characteristic of his work. Consequently, he created a house full of symbols, fantastic imagery, a canvas that explains a virtually indecipherable story, to be completed by each individual with their own imagination.
