Artwork information

Category

Print

Technique

Hand-colored drypoint on BKF Rives paper

Date

1971

Dimensions

50 cm x 65 cm

Signature

Signed lower right

Proof(s) of authenticity

This work is listed in Ralf Michler and Lutz W. Löpsinger's authoritative catalogue raisonné of Salvador Dalí's graphic works under no. 484. This impression is hand-signed in pencil lower right and numbered in pencil lower left from the edition of 150 impressions on watermarked BKF Rives paper.

State of conservation

Very good

Framing

No

Location

Paris, France

Description

Salvador Dalí (1904–1989), "Venus with the Organ Player" (1971), from the series "New Mythology." Drypoint with hand-coloring on watermarked BKF Rives paper, hand-signed in pencil lower right and numbered in pencil lower left. This print belongs to the edition of 150 impressions. The work is listed in Ralf Michler and Lutz W. Löpsinger's catalogue raisonné of Salvador Dalí's graphic works under no. 484. The sheet measures 50 × 65 cm and is presented in very good overall condition.

Created as part of the "New Mythology" series, this composition reflects Dalí's highly personal interpretation of the classical figure of Venus. The female nude occupies the foreground with the remarkable delicacy of line characteristic of the artist's drypoint technique. Her body, rendered with great economy of line, contrasts beautifully with the stylized Mediterranean landscape and architectural elements extending into the background.

To the right of the composition appears the silhouette of an organ player, whose presence establishes a silent dialogue with the figure of Venus. The graceful lines, delicately applied hand-colored highlights, and expansive open spaces create a contemplative atmosphere imbued with poetry and mystery. As is often the case in Dalí's work, references to Antiquity are reinterpreted through a Surrealist language in which dreams, memory, and time merge within a timeless landscape.

With its graphic elegance, refined execution, and place within one of Salvador Dalí's most accomplished mythological series, "Venus with the Organ Player" is a particularly sought-after work among collectors of the artist's graphic oeuvre.

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. 484.

The artist

Painter
Drawer
Sculptor

Salvador Dalí

Famous artistFamous 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.

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