Salvador Dalí

Portrait aux Signatures (de la Série La Vie est un songe)

Technique

Etching and aquatint on watermarked Richard de Bas paper

Date

1971

Dimensions

65 cm x 50 cm

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Salvador DalíPortrait aux Signatures (de la Série La Vie est un songe)

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Artwork information

Technique

Etching and aquatint on watermarked Richard de Bas paper

Date

1971

Dimensions

65 cm x 50 cm

Signature

Signed lower right

Proof(s) of authenticity

The work is listed in the reference catalogues of Salvador Dalí's graphic works by Ralf Michler and Lutz W. Löpsinger under no. 525, and by Albert Field under no. 73-1-N. This impression is hand-signed in pencil lower right and numbered in pencil lower left, from the regular edition of 250 impressions on watermarked Richard de Bas paper. The edition also includes XXV impressions on Japan paper.

State of conservation

Very good

Framing

Location

Paris, France

Description

Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) "Portrait with Signatures" (1971) from the series "Life Is a Dream". Color etching and aquatint on watermarked Richard de Bas paper, hand-signed in pencil lower right and numbered in pencil lower left. This print belongs to the regular edition of 250 impressions, together with XXV impressions on Japan paper. Published by EdiEuropa Anstalt and Berggruen, it is listed in the catalogues raisonnés of Ralf Michler & Lutz W. Löpsinger (no. 525) and Albert Field (no. 73-1-N). The sheet measures 65 × 50 cm and is presented in very good overall condition.

Inspired by Pedro Calderón de la Barca's celebrated play Life Is a Dream, this composition demonstrates Dalí's remarkable ability to reinterpret a literary masterpiece through his own visual language. The monumental central figure stands out against a dense network of signatures, inscriptions, and calligraphic marks that animate the entire sheet, giving the print a highly distinctive identity within the series.

The composition is distinguished by the refined balance between the deep etched blacks, the subtle tonal effects of aquatint, and delicate shades of pink, blue, and ochre. The handwritten inscriptions are not merely decorative; they form an integral part of the composition and reflect the importance Dalí attached to graphic signs and written forms throughout his printed work.

Belonging to one of Salvador Dalí's most ambitious illustrated print series of the early 1970s, "Portrait with Signatures" combines exceptional graphic refinement with a striking visual presence. Its limited edition, excellent state of preservation, and inclusion in the principal catalogues raisonnés of the artist's graphic oeuvre make it a particularly desirable work for collectors of Salvador Dalí's original prints.

Provenance

Private collection, France.

Bibliography

- Ralf Michler & Lutz W. Löpsinger, Salvador Dalí: Catalogue Raisonné of Etchings and Mixed-Media Prints 1924–1980, Prestel-Verlag, Munich / New York, 1994, ref. no. 525.
- Albert Field, The Official Catalog of the Graphic Works of Salvador Dalí, Salvador Dalí Archives, ref. no. 73-1-N.

The artist

Painter

Drawer

Sculptor

Salvador Dalí

Famous artist

Painter

Drawer

Sculptor

Born in 1904

Spain

Bio

Salvador Dalí, the undisputed master of surrealism, left an indelible mark on the art world of the 20th century. Born on May 11, 1904 in Figueras in Catalonia, Dalí quickly stood out for his boundless imagination, his distinctive style and his captivating eccentricity.

From a young age, Salvador Dalí showed exceptional talent for art. He studied at the San Fernando Royal School of Fine Arts in Madrid, where he became friends with the emerging surrealist movement. His rebellious spirit and unconventional approach to art made him one of the most provocative figures of this movement.

Dalí is best known for his iconic works such as The Persistence of Memory, where soft watches symbolize the relativity of time. His distinct surrealist style, characterized by dreamlike images, strange juxtapositions and exceptional technical precision, helped redefine the limits of artistic imagination.

Dalí's art was not limited to painting; he also explored sculpture, photography, fashion, cinema and advertising. His eccentric personality, with his famous fanged mustache, added a theatrical dimension to his public image.

Dalí was also influenced by artistic movements such as Cubism, Dadaism and Classicism, creating a unique fusion of traditional and contemporary elements in his work. His fascination with psychoanalysis, particularly the theories of Sigmund Freud, also profoundly influenced his art.

Beyond his artistic genius, Salvador Dalí was a flamboyant character in daily life. His collaboration with other renowned artists such as Luis Buñuel and Pablo Picasso left a lasting cultural legacy.

Salvador Dalí died on January 23, 1989, but his influence persists in the contemporary art world. His innovative spirit and artistic legacy continue to inspire new generations, making him an immortal icon of surrealism and unbridled creativity.