Dal Divine Comedy Appraisal

Salvador Dal - 'The Souls of the Effeminate' from the Divine Comedy Series

This artwork is a woodcut print in color on paper, originating from Salvador Dal's monumental 'Divine Comedy' suite, specifically from the Purgatorio section. The piece features Dal's characteristic Surrealist style, depicting four ethereal, elongated figures in fluid poses. The palette consists of muted greens, blues, yellows, and a touch of terracotta, rendered with delicate, watercolor-like transparency. At the top center, the artist's name is incorporated into the plate, while a bold, hand-signed pencil signature appears in the lower right margin. In the lower left, an edition number or notation 'E.A.' (Artist's Proof) is visible. The figures exhibit the 'melting' or distorted morphology typical of Dal's work in the 1960s. The paper appears to be an off-white cream tone, consistent with BFK Rives or Arches paper commonly used for this series. The artwork is housed in a modern gold-toned metal frame with a double mat including a grey inner border and a cream outer border. The condition appears stable, though there is a slight vertical ripple in the paper suggesting it may not be mounted flat. This series was commissioned in the early 1950s and completed in the 1960s, representing a peak period of Dal's late-classical craftsmanship.