The Piano (from the Memories of Surrealism portfolio)
Original color lithograph with etching, on Arches paper • Salvador Dalí (Spanish, 1904-1989)
Style & Movement
Surrealism
Medium & Technique
Lithography and etching; features linear hand-drawn elements with watercolor-style washes and fine-line etching. The technique utilizes overlapping color plates to simulate the 'automatic drawing' style.
Creation Period
1971
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 30 x 21 inches (sheet size); Portrait format
Subject Description
A dreamlike landscape featuring iconic Dalinian motifs: a melting or structural piano transforming into a cypress tree, a winding road, a seated figure in the foreground, and a large, explosive ocular form in the upper left. The composition explores themes of memory, music, and the subconscious through fluid, organic shapes and anthropomorphic trees.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; showing typical signs of age-related handling for a 1970s print.
Estimated Market Value
$3,000 - $5,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$2,500 - $4,500 USD
Provenance History
Marked 'E.A.' (Épreuve d'Artiste/Artist's Proof) in the lower left, indicating it was part of the non-numbered artist copies. Likely acquired through a private gallery or collection specializing in 20th-century prints.
Art Historical Significance
This piece belongs to the 'Memories of Surrealism' suite, which was a retrospective look by Dalí at his own contribution to the movement. It illustrates the 'paranoiac-critical' method through the transformation of everyday objects (pianos) into natural or anatomical forms, a central tenet of his late-career printmaking.
Notable Features
Hand-signed in pencil by 'Dalí' in the lower right; 'E.A.' annotation in lower left. Features recurring Dalinian symbols such as the dragonfly, the cypress tree, and the 'soft' melting imagery that defines his visual vocabulary.
Condition Issues
Minor rippling/cockling of the paper due to humidity or mounting tension; visible creasing/buckling in the upper right and bottom center; slight yellowing of the paper (acidification) from non-archival matting.
Conservation Recommendations
Recommend removal from current acidic matting and re-framing using museum-grade 100% rag board and UV-protective glazing. A professional conservator could address the paper rippling through controlled humidification and flattening.