Dimensions: 98 x 70 cm
signed and inscribed in pencil at the bottom: 'LXXIV / CLXXXXV Dali'
ed. 74/195
Condition
Work mounted
Biography
One of the most recognizable painters of the 20th century. Known as an extraordinary eccentric and a great talent. Creator of the surrealist creative method known as “paranoid-critical.” His artistic abilities were recognized as early as childhood, which is why, at the age of 10, young Salvador began taking drawing lessons. By the age of 14, he was already successfully exhibiting his paintings for sale. In 1921, he began his studies at the Royal Academy of Art in Madrid, from which he was expelled twice due to his unbridled temperament. In 1928, the painter moved to Paris, where he joined the Surrealist group then centered around the writer André Breton, the author of the Surrealist Manifesto. Dalí quickly gained the group’s recognition, but was ultimately expelled for alleged greed and fascist tendencies. From 1929 onward, the artist consistently developed the theory of Surrealism, which centered on Sigmund Freud’s research into the subconscious. In the 1930s, the artist spent a great deal of time in the United States, where he slowly climbed the career ladder. In 1934, the painter married Helena “Gala” Diakonova, his companion, muse, and fellow artist, who had a profound influence on his work. It was to her that he owed the oversight of his career and, consequently, his many successes in the years that followed. In addition to his multitude of stunning paintings and exhibitions, Dalí attracted media attention with the image he created for himself as a “surrealist clown,” thanks to which he quickly became recognizable and amassed a great fortune. In 1948, he and Gala returned to Europe, where they spent their time in magnificent Spanish and French estates. In 1974, the artist opened his own museum in his hometown of Figueres, the building for which he designed himself. To this day, Dalí’s art permeates pop culture, serves as a trademark, and his paintings are a symbol of surrealism.
