Salvador Dalí, Hommage à Leonardo da Vinci - Le Téléphone, 1975
“Each morning when I awake, I experience again a supreme pleasure – that of being Salvador Dalí.”
The most famous member of the Surrealist movement and the 20th century's most unconventional polymath, Dalí's creative output encompassed the fields of painting, printmaking, sculpture, fashion, advertising and filmmaking. His work predominantly explores subconscious imagery, using an intense visual language to express his dreams and hallucinations. His graphic work forms a major part of his output and captures the full breadth of his evolution as an artist.
He was also a master of celebrity showmanship, spectacle and the cult of personality. A colourful and flamboyant presence who was never far from the public eye, Dalí's
signature cape, wide-eyed expression and trademark moustache are still pop culture staples more than thirty years after his death.
His legend lives on in numerous international museums and private collections. Here at Hidden we've had the great privilege of exhibiting an amazing selection of works by this surrealist legend, and we are delighted to have acquired a number of fabulous new works in recent weeks.
Any questions? We are happy to help. Call: 0117 279 6402 or send us a message now.
Salvador Dalí, Hommage à Leonardo da Vinci - Le Téléphone, 1975
When it comes to Dalí's iconography, two images come to mind before all others: the melting clock and the lobster telephone. This surrealist motif par excellence appears repeatedly throughout Dalí's oeuvre and made its first appearance in a drawing commissioned by the magazine American Weekly in 1935.
This print was created in 1975 as part of the Homage to Leonardo da Vinci portfolio. Dali had maintained a lifelong fascination with the Renaissance master, once writing that he was "...the greatest master of painting, a soul that knew how to study, to invent, to create with ardour, passion and energy, which was how he lived his whole life. His paintings reflect his constant love, dedication and passion for his work." He also admired his mastery of science, as he felt that every true artist should be well read in the sciences.
The portfolio contains numerous references to modern technological innovations and is a celebration of knowledge and experimentation. It exalts in the same spirit that pervades da Vinci's famous notebooks, but with a profound surrealistic twist that manages to be playful, bizarre, sinister and joyous all at once.
Salvador Dalí, Memorabilia, 1972
Featuring in several of his paintings and prints, Dalí's famous 'melting clocks' suggest the omnipresence of time and its mastery over human beings. They came to represent a metaphysical image of time devouring itself and everything else. It is said that Dalí's inspiration for the soft watch came when he observed the surreal way that a piece of runny Camembert cheese melted in the sun. It has also been suggested that they represent Dalí's engagement with Einstein's theory of special relativity.
This is one of Dalí's most iconic and instantly recognisable prints - a must have for any surrealist collection!
Salvador Dalí, Visage Surrealiste, 1972
This charming etching can trace its origins back to 1935, when Dalí produced his celebrated portrait "Mae West’s Face Which May be Used as a Surrealist Apartment". In his hands the Hollywood star's famous likeness was transformed into a modern interior; her eyes became paintings on the wall, her nose a chimney, and her red lips a plush velvet sofa.
In this bucolic reinterpretation the portrait is assembled outdoors from a variety of fruits and tree forms. It's Dalí at his most whimsical and serves as a terrifically fun entry point to his work.
Salvador Dalí, The Visceral Circle of the Cosmos, 1975
This fabulous print comes from Dalí's seminal 1975 portfolio "Conquest of the Cosmos." Across twelve dazzling etchings with lithographic elements the artist explored his passion for all things scientific. Since the Space Race had begun in earnest during the 1950s Dalí had been compelled to dream of the extraordinary cosmic landscapes that mankind would soon discover. He envisaged the conquest of outer space as humanity's great task.
The rich imagery of this series captures a number of Dalí's quintessential themes and is an incredibly vivid illustration of the way he sought to express his dreams and hallucinations.
Salvador Dalí, Complete 'Aurélia' Portfolio, 1972
This is a wonderful opportunity to acquire one of Dali's print portfolios as it was originally published in 1972. These prints have never been framed and are still housed in their vintage deluxe portfolio box. The four works inside constitute a ready-made collection of Dali's signature motifs. Even better, this set is edition number 1 of 100.
These etchings were inspired by "Aurélia", a novella by the 19th century French author and poet Gerard de Nerval. Nerval is perhaps best known for his regular walks through the gardens of the Palais-Royal in Paris, accompanied by his pet lobster Thibault at the end of a blue silk ribbon. Keen to explore altered states of consciousness, he preferred to dwell in what he called the "spirit world". Material reality was of little interest to him; he referred to it as a "hovel and place of ill-repute." He was determined to break down the barriers between dreams and waking life. Unsurprisingly, Dalí loved him.
Any questions? We are happy to help. Call: 0117 279 6402 or send us a message now.
