Narcissus
Salvador Dalí
Narcissus
etching & aquatint
1963
An original hand-signed Salvador Dalí etching & aquatint print.
1963
Original etching and aquatint printed in colors on wove paper bearing the ARCHES FRANCE watermark.
Hand-signed in pencil in the margin lower right Dalí.
Published by Editions Argillet, Paris. Superb impressions of these large, early prints. From the deluxe edition of 100 on Japon nacré, aside from the regular edition of 150 on Arches.
Catalog: Michler/Löpsinger 124; Field 63-3 H.
19 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches
Sheet Size: 30 1/4 x 22 5/8 inches
Dalí illustrated Mythology by drawing very closely upon the symbolism of the ancient Greek legends. Using what he called “hazard objectif”(the meaningful manifestation of chance), he would often start with an abstract smudge, created in a single motion, and he developed his theme from this sign of Fate, like the Pythia of Delphi who interpreted the Oracle from the smoke coming out of the cave. This is particularly noticeable in his etchings entitled: “Œdipus and Sphinx”, “Theseus and Minotaurus”, “Jupiter”, “Pegasus”, and “The Milky Way”.
When Dalí worked on these plates, he experimented with all kinds of unusual tools like chisels, nails or wheels for the “Birth of Venus”, even a real octopus immersed in acid, which left its imprint on his “Medusa”.
