Salvador Dali (1904 – 1971) Spanish Surrealist Artist

Salvador Dali might be the most well-known artist of the Surrealist movement of the early 20th century. Dali was born on May 11, 1904 in a small town in Spain and the artist showed an early interest in art. Urged by his family, Dali began his artist career at the Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid. After dropping out right before graduation, the artist joined the Surrealist movement. He joined the group of well-known artists such as Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Yves Tanguy, and Max Ernst.

In 1934, the Surrealists kicked Dali out of the group for having no interest in politics. As a result, he replied with his famous quote, “The difference between me and the surrealists is that I am Surrealism.” In the same year, Dali met young art collector, Pierre Argillet, and began a life-long friendship. Together, these two men created and published some of the finest etchings of Dali’s career.

Towards the end of his life, Dali opened the Teatro Museo Dali in his birthplace of Figueras, Spain. Six years later in 1970, the Salvador Dali Museum opened in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Ultimately, this granted the artist the honor of being the only artist in history to have two separate museums dedicated to his work during a lifetime.

Pierre Argillet and The Argillet Collection

The Argillet Collection of Salvador Dali Drawings and Original Etchings is a collaboration between Salvador Dali and art collector and publisher Pierre Argillet. This collection includes the highest standards of quality and skill. As a result, some of the finest work produced by Dali came from this body of work. Between 1934 and 1974, the two men created and published nearly 200 works. Ultimately, some of the best known museums around the world display the work of Dali.

Argillet only accepted etchings done in the usual method on copper. Thus he refused to go along with Dali’s desire to make photo-based lithographs. As a result, in 1974 the two partners went their separate ways professionally, yet remained friends.