Petit Nu Apollinaire translates to Little Apollinaire Nude in English. This piece is one of 18 original etchings from the Secret Poems of Apollinaire Suite. 

Dali’s work was heavily influenced by literature. As a result, he used the works of Guillaume Apollinaire as inspiration for this suite. To clarify, Apollinaire was considered one of the most influential literary figures of the early 20th century; his works influenced many artistic movements such as Dadaism, Cubism, and Surrealism.

The artist’s original plan for the suite was to illustrate songs by Georges Brassens. However, the singer’s agent recommended many changes. Therefore, Dali shifted the themes to more war-torn scenes in the first plates. Pierre Argillet suggested that Dali should illustrate the Secret Poems after connecting these early plates to the devastation of World War I. The series then took on a more unconventional, ultimately Surrealist, turn as a result.

The Argillet Collection of Salvador Dali Drawings and Original Etchings is a collaboration between Surrealist Salvador Dali and art collector and publisher Pierre Argillet. Accordingly, this collection demonstrates the highest standards of quality, draftsmanship, and artisanship. As a result, this body of work is possibly the finest work produced by Dali during his career. Between 1934 and 1974, the two men created and published nearly 200 works. Ultimately, many of which have been displayed in some of the best known museums around the world.