Salvador Dali (1904 - 1989), Charon - crossing the Archeon - Divine Comedy, Inferno, Canto 3

Graphic, limited edition of 500 pieces, Arches velin paper
Each print is individually numbered, inscription in pencil l.d.: 20/500, Dimensions: 55 x 39 cm in light of passe - partout of 72 x 55 cm; At the bottom dry stamp - Certified Dali Dalart NV, Copyright 1981; on the reverse stamp : "Fundatio Gala-Salvador Dali" - Foundation logo in the shape of a sailboat with the letters G on the sail. Original publisher's certificate.
"Charon and the Crossing of Acheron" is a 1963 work by Salvador Dalí depicting Charon,
the carrier of souls to the hereafter in Greek mythology, was created as part of a series of works
inspired by Dante Alighieri's " Divine Comedy." Dali in 1951 was commissioned by the Italian
government to create 100 illustrations depicting the various hellish, purgatorial and heavenly visions
described in this epic.
Salvador Dali's illustrations for Dante Alighieri's " Divine Comedy" have won both acclaim and
have stirred controversy internationally. The project was designed to commemorate the 700th anniversary of
Dante's birth and was initially commissioned by the Italian government in 1950
After the decision to commission Dali was announced, protests erupted in Italy. Many
critics believed that the illustration of " The Divine Comedy," such an important work in Italian literature,
should be commissioned to a native artist rather than a foreign artist. Dali, despite his fame, was a
surrealist artist, which to many seemed inappropriate in the context of the classic work of
Dante.
Due to this controversy, the Italian government eventually backed out of the project. Nevertheless, Dali
continued working on the illustrations, which were eventually published by a French publishing house.
Despite the initial controversy, over time Dali's illustrations began to be appreciated for their uniqueness and
bold interpretation. Dali created 100 watercolors, one for each song from " The Divine Comedy," which
show not only the content of the poem, but also Dali's surreal vision of the world.
Dali transformed Dante's medieval visions into his characteristic surrealist paintings,
full of distortions, strange forms and uncanny symbols. His works were more of a psychological
and subjective interpretation of " The Divine Comedy" than a classical illustration. It was this innovative and
personal style has gained recognition among art critics and collectors around the world.
Dali's illustrations have been exhibited in many prestigious exhibitions around the world, including
art museums in the United States, Europe and Asia. Over time, they have become some of his
most famous graphic works.
Dali, with his surrealist approach to such a classic work as " The Divine Comedy," became part of the
tradition of reinterpretation of canonical literary works by modern artists. Today, his
illustrations to " The Divine Comedy" are seen as a unique work of art that successfully
combines the classic with modernity and innovation.
Charon symbolizes the transition between life and death. His boat is a bridge between the world
of the living and the hereafter. The swirling lines represent the uncertainty and mystery of the journey of souls. The ants on the
boat are a reference to death and passing. Ants are one of the frequent motifs in the
Salvador Dalí's works. After joining the Surrealist movement in 1929, ants began to
frequently appear in many of his works, such as "The Grim Game," "The Great Masturbator," "Rooms of
of Desire," "Gala," "Persistence of Memory" and "Surrealist Composition with Invisible Figures." Dali
uses ants to show his desires and, at the same time, the fears that haunt him: the ant
represents the decay that he fears so much. It's a fascinating and repulsive motif that
has accompanied him throughout his painting career.