Tête au drapeau (Head with Flag)
Print on paper (etching with aquatint) • Salvador Dalí
Style & Movement
Surrealism
Medium & Technique
Etching and aquatint on paper, characterized by fine line work, cross-hatching, and tonal shading created through acid-resistant resin.
Creation Period
circa 1928-1930
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 25 x 19 cm (plate size); Portrait format
Subject Description
A complex, hallucinatory 'anthropomorphic head' or bust composed of mechanical, biological, and ship-like elements. It features a wheel, a checkerboard pattern, gears, and a flag, standing on a horizon line with a small ship in the distance. The composition explores Paranoiac-Critical themes and the deconstruction of form.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the print appears well-preserved behind glass with clear, deep blacks and sharp plate mark visible.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $10,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$4,000 - $8,000 USD
Provenance History
Originally likely part of a limited edition for a portfolio or Surrealist publication; typically found in private collections or major museums like the Reina Sofía or MoMA.
Art Historical Significance
A significant example of Dalí's early Surrealist printmaking, illustrating his transition from Cubism to a fully realized Surrealist vocabulary involving 'irrational knowledge' and dream imagery.
Notable Features
Distinctive use of the plate mark as a framing device; recurring Dalinian motifs such as the checkerboard and the 'phantom' ship silhouette; highly detailed intaglio texture.
Condition Issues
Possible minor light-strike / paper yellowing at edges; faint surface undulation consistent with handmade paper; reflections in the photo obscure parts of the upper left and right quadrants.
Conservation Recommendations
Ensure use of museum-quality acid-free matting; keep out of direct UV light to prevent fading of the fine etched lines; maintain stable humidity (45-55%).