Dalí. The Paintings

Salvador Dalí – The comprehensive art book about his paintings and Surrealism

The most comprehensive study to date on Salvador Dalí's paintings and their influence on modern art history

This publication offers the most comprehensive overview of the paintings by Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) and his central role in Surrealism. Based on years of research, Robert Descharnes and Gilles Néret have unearthed numerous previously unknown works and documented Dalí's artistic universe in all its depth.

This volume presents Dalí's paintings for the first time in the expanded context of drawings, writings, preparatory sketches, and ephemera. This creates a unique insight into his thinking about the subconscious, dream worlds, and the "miraculous" structure of reality that shapes his art.

Dalí himself described his lifelong drive with the words: He wanted to "only be Salvador Dalí." This ambition is reflected in a body of work that consistently pushes boundaries and has profoundly shaped 20th-century art.

The study is divided into two parts: The first part illuminates Dalí's early years and his playful engagement with artistic movements such as Impressionism, Cubism, Fauvism, and Futurism, which he masterfully incorporates and ironically exaggerates. The second part is dedicated to his mature work and his consistent exploration of the subconscious.

Among the key works are, for example, Tuna fishing (1966/67) and The hallucinogenic bullfighter (1970). The volume is supplemented by rarely seen homages to masters such as Velázquez and Michelangelo, as well as by references to ballet, cinema, fashion, advertising and crafts.

This art book is an indispensable standard work for anyone who wants to gain a deep understanding of Salvador Dalí's work, Surrealism, and the development of modern art.

The authors

Gilles Néret (1933–2005) was an art historian, journalist, and exhibition critic. He organized international art retrospectives, edited important art journals, and published numerous standard works, including titles on Dalí, Matisse, and erotic art.

Robert Descharnes (1926–2014) was a photographer and author. He documented and catalogued the work of Salvador Dalí and is considered one of the most important experts on his life and artistic oeuvre.

• Mass: 21 x 26 cm
• Pages: 752
• Language: English, Spanish
• Einband: Hardcover
• Weight: 2.67 kg