Desert Flowers (from the series 'After 50 Years of Surrealism')
Original fine art print (etching with lithographic color) on paper • Salvador Dalí (Spanish, 1904–1989)
Style & Movement
Surrealism
Medium & Technique
Drypoint etching with hand-coloring and lithography. This technique involves incising lines directly into a plate, combined with flat planes of color, creating a sharp yet delicate linear quality characteristic of the artist's late graphic work.
Creation Period
1974
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 76 x 56 cm (sheet size); Portrait format
Subject Description
The composition features a dreamlike landscape where a central anthropomorphic face merges with the desert floor. It includes Dalí's iconic motifs: long perspective lines receding toward a distant horizon, a 'bleeding' lip or floral element, and delicate, spindly figures. The work explores the subconscious through the double-image technique, where landscape elements form the features of a human face.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The paper appears relatively bright, though there is potential for light-struck mat burn or slight yellowing near the edges of the matting commonly seen in pieces of this age.
Estimated Market Value
$2,000 - $4,000 USD (subject to authentication of the signature and edition)
Auction Estimate
$1,500 - $3,000 USD
Provenance History
The print bears a pencil signature in the lower right and an edition number or 'EA' (Épreuve d'Artiste) in the lower left. Likely acquired via a commercial gallery or art auction; presence of a modern retail tag suggests current secondary market placement.
Art Historical Significance
This piece belongs to the 'After 50 Years of Surrealism' portfolio, which served as a retrospective look by Dalí at his own contributions to the movement. It illustrates his late-career mastery of printmaking and his continued obsession with the paranoiac-critical method of interpreting reality.
Notable Features
Features the distinct, fluid pencil signature of Salvador Dalí. The use of vibrant red contrasting against the monochromatic tan/sepia landscape is a hallmark of his graphic aesthetic in the mid-1970s.
Condition Issues
Possible minor foxing or oxidation of the paper due to non-archival framing materials; slight rippling of the paper ('cockling') suggests it may not be mounted to acid-free board.
Conservation Recommendations
Recommend removal from current frame to inspect for acid damage. If necessary, deacidification treatment by a paper conservator. Re-frame using museum-grade UV-protective glass and 100% cotton rag acid-free matting.