Biography
Salvador Dali (Spanish, 1904 – 1989) is among the most famous artists of the 20th century. An artist whose art can best be described as “seriously weird” (a title Dali would surely approve of), Dali made a name for himself by creating works of art that appeared both real and surreal. Born in Figueres, Spain in 1904, Dali studied art in various media (painting, sculpture, and printmaking) in Spain. Unimpressed with traditional styles of art, Dali found his outlet in the Surrealist style of Modern Art. In Surrealism, the artist strives to depict the dream-like and make images from the subconscious. This resulted in artworks that were unlike anything that had been seen before, with the possible exception of the paintings of Hieronymous Bosch (Dutch, 1450 – 1516). This strangeness makes Dali’s work, and especially the prints of Dali, ever popular at auction. In addition, his works are present in famed museums throughout the world. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Guggenheim, the Museo Thyssen – Bornemisza, the Tate, and many other museums house his popular works.
Dali’s Surrealism
Paintings by Dali and his fellow Surrealists, such as Joan Miro (1893 – 1983), quickly became renowned throughout the world. Dali reached the height of his popularity and influence with his Persistence of Memory (1931, Museum of Modern Art, NYC). This is perhaps the most popular painting of the 20th century. Often called Melting Clocks, this painting depicts a strange landscape of a dream where Time does not exist. Though the details of the landscape and the figures appear real, we are given clues to the painting’s surreality. The strange creature in the foreground and the clock face constructed entirely out of ants tell the viewer that this is not a picture of real life. Rather, the viewer sees an image of something firmly beyond our physical reality. As such, standing before a Dali painting is an exercise of the mind, and a truly exhilarating experience.
The Prints of Dali
While Dali’s paintings are incredible and art historically important, they are financially out of reach for the vast majority of his adoring fans. Dali knew this, and made sure that works in other media were available to the non uber-wealthy. Being trained in printmaking and especially etching, Dali used these techniques to create multiple copies (sometimes into the hundreds) of his works. As a result, prints by Dali are available on the market and highly in demand.
Dali’s prints and etchings often reflect Surrealist themes, with images of dream worlds and things beyond our plane of existence. Dali was equally inspired, however, by great works of literature and earlier works of art. As a result, Dali’s etchings often illustrated famous books or works of literature as diverse as Miguel Cervantes’s Don Quixote and the Song of Songs of the Bible. Nest Egg Auctions has sold examples of Dali’s etchings for both texts, as well as many other prints by Dali: these include a signed etching of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza before the Windmills, a set of two multiple color etchings from the Song of Songs suite, and even Surrealist dreamscapes. These pieces commonly sell in the hundreds to thousands of dollars, making these works both popular with collectors and accessible to the discerning art enthusiast.
Selling Dali Prints at Nest Egg Auctions
Nest Egg Auctions is experienced in the identification of Salvador Dali prints and multiples. If you believe you have a print by Dali, we would like to see it! If you know that what you have is a Dali print or etching, then we would love to see that too. Should you have an original oil painting by Dali, please do not hesitate to reach out.