Apparition de Dulcinée | Explosive Original Lithography by Salvador Dalí
Apparition de Dulcinée (“Imaginary Vision of Dulcinea”) depicts the idealized love interest of Don Quichotte (“Don Quixote”), Dulcinea del Toboso. To him, although fictional, she is of perfect beauty and virtue and the inspiration behind his chivalric adventures.
This original stone lithograph is from "Pages Choisies de Don Quichotte de la Mancha," Salvador Dali’s first ever lithographic portfolio. The portfolio illustrates the first modern European novel ever written, Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.
The portfolio is perhaps the most uniquely creative set of lithographs ever created by the 20th century master. In order to create his vision and illustrate the central themes of Cervantes’ novel: mental illness, perception disorder, turmoil, anxiety, and sleep deprivation, Dali created new and unique techniques. He even created his own style of Tachisme, a French painting style in the 1940’s that used dabs or splotches of color to create abstract expressionism.
To achieve this he utilized a 15th century musket to shoot bullets of printer’s ink at the stones, leaving chaotic splatters. In other instances, he filled Rhinoceros horns with lithography ink to act as his pen. Some images were further developed with watercolor and collage. These techniques together created truly stunning images that elicit a visceral response to the viewer.
Dali started the project in 1956 and relied on the expertise of six different print houses to accurately depict his final vision. Printing was completed on October 28th, 1957. Ultimately this portfolio was published and distributed, with included text from Cervantes, by Joseph Foret of Paris in 1957.
Artwork Details
- Artist: Salvador Dalí
- Title: Apparition de Dulcinée
- Medium: Original Lithograph
- Edition: XII/XXV
- Signature: Signed in the Stone
- Paper Size: 13" x 16 1/8"
- Paper Type: Arches
- Frame Size: 26 3/4" x 23 1/2" x 1 3/4"
- Printer: Mourlot
- Publisher: Joseph Foret, Editeur D'Art, Paris, 1957
- Reference: Field, 57-1, pp.123-125; Löpsinger 1001-1012, p.96
Includes COA from Gold & Silver Pawn Shop
Framing included, as pictured