Divine Comedy Series Appraisal

Salvador Dalí - Purgatory Canto 25 (The Gluttons) from the Divine Comedy Series

This item is a woodblock color lithograph on paper by the Spanish Surrealist master Salvador Dalí, part of his monumental 'Divine Comedy' suite which was produced between roughly 1950 and 1964. The artwork depicts a cluster of intertwining, distorted human figures in Dalí’s signature surrealist style, characterized by earthy tones of ochre, tan, and brown against a light background with delicate linear etchings. The composition features the characteristic 'Dalíesque' metamorphosis of bodies. The piece is notably signed 'Dalí' in red crayon or pencil within a rectangular box at the bottom center of the plate, which is a common mark for the authorized French editions of this series. The paper appears to be a high-quality woven or rag paper typical of mid-century fine art printing. It is professionally matted with a cream-colored acid-free mat and housed in a simple dark wooden or synthetic frame under glass. Condition-wise, the print shows no immediate signs of foxing or water damage, though there is a prominent reflection on the glass from the surrounding room. The craftsmanship reflects the intricate wood engraving process used to translate Dalí's original watercolors into print form by master engravers Raymond Jacquet and Jean Taricco. Detailed authentication would require inspection of the watermark (often BFK Rives) and the verso.