The Basket of Bread
Painting on panel • Salvador Dalí
Style & Movement
New Classicism / Surrealist Hyper-realism
Medium & Technique
Oil on wood panel with precise glaze layers and trompe-l'oeil technique
Creation Period
1945
Dimensions & Format
33 x 38 cm (approx. 13 x 15 in); landscape format
Subject Description
A single piece of bread in a woven basket sits perched on the edge of a wooden table against a dark, monochromatic void. The composition uses high-contrast lighting to elevate a humble subject to a sacred, almost Eucharistic status, symbolizing post-war survival and classical perfection.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; well-preserved within a museum collection
Estimated Market Value
$10,000,000 - $15,000,000 (estimation based on historical importance, though museum-held)
Auction Estimate
$8,000,000 - $12,000,000
Provenance History
Formerly in the collection of the Salvador Dalí Museum, Figueres; gifted by the artist to his wife Gala; significant history in international retrospectives.
Art Historical Significance
A masterpiece of Dalí's 'Nuclear Mysticism' and classical return. It marks a transition from psychiatric surrealism to a preoccupation with the techniques of the Old Masters (specifically Zurbarán and Vermeer) and was notably used as a symbol for the Marshall Plan.
Notable Features
Precise execution of the bread's texture and the basket's weaving; the intentional placement of the basket overhanging the table's edge creates a sense of tension and masterly perspective.
Condition Issues
Minimal aging of the varnish layer; no significant craquelure or structural damage reported.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable climate control (50% RH), UV-filtered glazing, and periodic inspection of the wooden panel support for stability.