Salvador Dalí, The Divine Comedy: Purgatory Canto 9 'Lucifer' Woodcut

This item is a framed woodcut print on paper by the Spanish surrealist master Salvador Dalí, from his monumental 'Divine Comedy' suite. The artwork illustrates a scene from Dante Alighieri’s Purgatory, specifically the ninth Canto. Physically, the piece features a vibrant palette dominated by cerulean blue drapery against a stippled, golden-tan background. The composition depicts highly stylized, muscular figures rendered with Dalí's characteristic fluid lines. In the lower right corner of the paper, a hand-signed pencil signature by Salvador Dalí is visible. The piece is housed in a contemporary double-mat and a silver-toned metallic frame with a gold inner fillet, reflecting a late 20th-century professional framing style. The print itself appears to be in very good condition with no visible foxing, tears, or significant fading, though it should be examined out of the frame for paper acidity or hinges. This series was originally commissioned by the Italian government in the 1950s and completed in the early 1960s. The craftsmanship of the woodcut blocks, which required precise registration for multiple colors, represents a high point in 20th-century printmaking. Notable features include the delicate stippling used to create texture in the background and the dramatic, flowing movement of the blue cloth which frames the central figures.

I have conducted a visual examination of this woodcut from Salvador Dalí’s 'The Divine Comedy' suite, specifically addressing Canto 9 of Purgatory. The work displays the characteristic registration precision and color saturation expected of the 1960-1964 Les Heures Claires edition. The condition appears to be very good; the cerulean blue pigments remain vibrant, and the stippled background shows no evidence of significant light-strike or foxing. The presence of a hand-signed pencil signature (as opposed to the common plate-signed versions) significantly elevates its market desirability. Current market demand for hand-signed Dalí woodcuts remains robust, with comparable sales in major auction houses generally falling between $4,000 and $7,000 depending on the specific canto and provenance. A significant value driver here is the professional contemporary framing, though this also conceals the paper edges. To provide a definitive authentication, a physical inspection is required to examine the paper for the 'BFK Rives' watermark and to verify the signature’s graphite indentation and stroke flow. Furthermore, removal from the frame is necessary to assess the verso for acid burn or hinging-tape damage, which could negatively impact long-term value. While the visual indicators are consistent with an authentic hand-signed edition, a full certificate of authenticity (COA) from a recognized Dalí scholar or a documented chain of provenance from a reputable gallery would be required to achieve the high end of this valuation range.