Don Quixote (from the ‘Five Spanish Immortals’ suite)
Print on paper, likely an etching or original engraving • Salvador Dalí (1904–1989)
Style & Movement
Surrealist interpretation of a classical literary theme
Medium & Technique
Etching or drypoint engraving with fine hatching and vigorous line work; plate-mark is clearly visible
Creation Period
1968
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 15 x 10 inches (image size); portrait format within a rectangular plate
Subject Description
A stylized depiction of Miguel de Cervantes' protagonist Don Quixote on Rosinante, wielding a lance and shield. The composition features Dalí's signature spindly-legged horse, a vast desert-like perspective, and a miniature Sancho Panza on a donkey in the background.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Fair; visible yellowing of the paper (acidification) and some foxing/spotting consistent with mid-range 20th-century paper prints
Estimated Market Value
$1,000 - $2,500 USD (depending on edition type/paper and verification of signature)
Auction Estimate
$800 - $1,500 USD
Provenance History
Unknown private collection; likely acquired from a commercial gallery or art publisher frequenting Dalí's voluminous 1960s editions
Art Historical Significance
A quintessential example of Dalí's late graphic work where he reinterprets Spanish cultural icons through a Surrealist lens using his 'paranoiac-critical' method of draftsmanship.
Notable Features
Characteristic 'quivering' line work and plate-signed 'Dali' (though often hand-signed below the mat line); presence of the distinct plate-mark indentation.
Condition Issues
Notable paper toning and oxidation; potential light-staining from non-archival matting; minor foxing visible in the margins and background sky.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional de-acidification/cleaning; remounting with acid-free archival matting and UV-protective glass to prevent further fading and toning.