22. Impressions about Africa

The fluidity of genres and techniques will bring Dali close to a theme that has been long promoted in art. However, the revisitation of classical art and its transposition into contemporaneity will occur through the surrealist means available to the artist. We now see a self-portrait in front of the easel, with his hand viscerally pointed towards the viewer, thus alluding to the master of the 17th century - Caravaggio - an artist who Dali studied in depth. The overcrowding of images and characters in the background, a trademark of the Spanish painter, but also his doubling and dedoubling, particularly recognizable in the sketches behind his own creation, this time bring to the public's attention a mix between landscape and (self) portrait, with some insertions of genre scenes. Gala's face (his wife) comes into focus, in the portrait illustrated by the artist floating right above him. Her eyes are immersed in the arch of the building that boldly rises behind him. Although Dali never went to Africa, he paints the subject with unbridled fervor and passion. Therefore, the landscape of the current work was inspired by the proximity of his house from the port of Lligat. We notice the fact that Dali takes into his works subjects, themes, characters and places known to him, which he filters more or less subjectively in the process of transposing them into a new reality. The oil work is found in the collection of the "Museum Boijmans van Beuningen", in Rotterdam.

Dimensions

width 38.5 cm, height 30 cm

Description

cromolitografie, signed lower right, under frame, in pencil, "Dali"; numbered lower left, under frame, in pencil, "DCXCVII/MM"

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.

For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.