SALVADOR DALI "TRISTAIN AND ISOLDE PORTFOLIO", 1969

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) is Surrealism's most accomplished and iconic practitioner. His work is eccentric, elaborate, and mysterious, with an avant-garde style that explores the depths of the subconscious and dream-like states. Prolific and endlessly inventive, Dali worked in almost every possible artistic medium; film, sculpture, photography, fashion and of course painting. Some of his earliest etchings date to the 1930's, as he worked in the graphic arts at the beginning of his career. Created in 1969, "Tristan and Isolde" reflects Dalí's enduring fascination with one of the great romantic tragedies of Western literature. Comprising twenty-one etchings inspired by the medieval legend of Tristan and Isolde, the portfolio reimagines the tale through the artist's unmistakable Surrealist lens. Rather than simply illustrating the narrative, Dalí transforms it into a dreamlike sequence of symbolic encounters: figures dissolve into landscape, forms shift between abstraction and representation, and emotion takes precedence over literal description. Dalí's virtuosity as a draftsman is on full display throughout the series. Dense networks of etched lines lend weight and permanence to architectural forms and dramatic passages, while delicate, fluid marks evoke atmosphere, movement, and psychological tension. The resulting compositions possess a remarkable sense of rhythm, oscillating between precision and spontaneity. The images invites sustained looking, revealing new associations and visual surprises with every encounter. The artist had a long standing fascination with the tale of Tristian and Isolde. Dating back to 1944, Dali created a 27 by 45 foot painting called "Mad Tristian" which served as a stage curtain for a ballet put on by the Metropolitan opera. Rich in symbolism and executed with extraordinary technical skill, Tristan and Isolde stands as a compelling example of Dalí's ability to merge literary tradition with the boundless logic of the imagination. Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto Gallery. "Tristain and Isolde" 1969 Original English edition Edition: 5/125 Note: 25 copies (1/125 to 25/125) feature an additional suite of 21 dry point engravings, each signed by the artist and numbered from I/XXV to XXV/XXV). Twenty-one dry point engravings, executed at the Rigal studio in Cadaques, Spain, on Velin de Mandeure paper Printed at Ateliers Rigal, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France Signed on frontispiece and initialed each of the engravings in pencil Interior prints are in very good condition. Portfolio case has some wear consistent with age but is in overall good condition. Full report available on request. Additional images are available on request.