Salvador Dalí

PEGASUS IN FLIGHT WITH ANGEL, Etching

1970

Genre: Surrealism
Subject: Animals
Medium: Etching
Surface: Paper
Country: United States
Dimensions w/Frame: 18 x 15 1/4

This original engraving is listed in the Field catalog as #70-3 and is limited to 1,000 prints (250 on Arches, signed; 1,000 in blue signed only in plate; total: 1,250).

Dali’s hybrid etching incorporates his unique iconography, as well as, his interest in negative space. The winged angel walking across the barren landscape is a symbol of the Spanish artist’s Catholic piety which grew in fervor after World War II. The carefully composed boulders and bones placed throughout the work allude to several of his most pivotal works from the early 20th century, including Soft Construction with Boiled Beans (Premonition of Civil War) and The Enigma of My Desire. The precise perspective of the landscape contrasts with the flat lines of the nude woman and Pegasus in the upper portion of the work. These distinct stylistic elements highlight his surrealist origins, eccentric concepts, and eclectic influences.

Salvador Dali Biography 1904-1989
Salvador Dali is considered as the greatest original artist of the surrealist art movement and one of the greatest masters of art of the twentieth century.
Dali began to study art at the Royal Academy of Art in Madrid. He was expelled twice and never took the final examinations. His opinion was that he was more qualified than those who should have examined him.
Surreal Art
In 1928 Dali went to Paris where he met the Spanish painters Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro. He established himself as the principal figure of a group of surrealist artists grouped around Andre Breton, who was something like the theoretical "schoolmaster" of surrealism. Years later Breton turned away from Dali accusing him of support of fascism, excessive self-presentation and financial greediness.

By 1929 Dali had found his personal style that should make him famous - the world of the unconscious that is recalled during our dreams. The surrealist theory is based on the theories of the psychologist Dr. Sigmund Freud. Recurring images of burning giraffes and melting watches became the artist's surrealist trademarks. His great craftsmanship allowed him to execute his paintings in a nearly photorealistic style. No wonder that the artist was a great admirer of the vintage Italian Renaissance painter Raphael.

Dali and Gala
Meeting Gala was the most important event in the artist's life and decisive for his future career. She was a Russian immigrant and ten years older than Dali. When he met her, she was married to Paul Eluard.


In the U.S.A.
In 1933 Salvador Dali had his first one-man show in New York. One year later he visited the U.S. for the first time supported by a loan of US$500 from Pablo Picasso. To evade World War II, Dali chose the U.S.A. as his permanent residence in 1940. He had a series of spectacular exhibitions, among others a great retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Besides creating a number of great paintings, Dali caused the attention of the media by playing the role of a surrealist clown. He made a lot of money from his limited edition workand was contemptuously nicknamed Avida Dollars (greedy for dollars) by Andre Breton.

Dali became the darling of the American High Society. Celebrities like Jack Warner or Helena Rubinstein gave him commissions for portraits. His art works became a popular trademark and besides painting he pursued other activities - jewelry and dated clothing designs for Coco Chanel or film making with Alfred Hitchcock.

The Classic Period After World War II
In 1948 Dali and Gala returned to Europe, spending most of their time either in their residence in Lligat/Spain or in Paris/France or in New York. Dali developed a lively interest in science, religion and history. He integrated things into his art that he had picked up from popular science magazines. Another source of inspiration were the great classical masters of painting like Raphael, Velasquez or the French painter Ingres.
The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg in Florida/U.S.A.
This art museum was founded in 1971 by the Dali collector A. Reynolds Morse and his wife Eleanor.
Dali Museum-Theater in Figueres, Spain
The Museum was the former Municipal Theater of Figueres.
Since 1970 the artist had dedicated his energy to transform the former Municipal Theater into a museum and art gallery. In 1974 the Theatro Museo Dali was officially opened.