lotte tarp salvador dali Four of Wands by Salvador Dalí

lotte tarp salvador dali Four of Wands by Salvador DalíSalvador Dal 1904 1989 Spanish Four of Wands Signed "Dal" (lower center) Gouache on photographic background From Salvador Dal's celebrated tarot series, Four of Wands represents a masterful fusion of the artist's surrealist vision with centuries old symbolic tradition. This extraordinary gouache on photographic paper exemplifies Dal's ability to transform mystical iconography through his distinctive visual language. The original commission for the

Salvador Dalí
1904-1989 | Spanish

Four of Wands

Signed "Dalí" (lower center)
Gouache on photographic background

From Salvador Dalí's celebrated tarot series, Four of Wands represents a masterful fusion of the artist's surrealist vision with centuries-old symbolic tradition. This extraordinary gouache on photographic paper exemplifies Dalí's ability to transform mystical iconography through his distinctive visual language. The original commission for the design came from Albert Broccoli, the producer of the James Bond film Live and Let Die, who sought a tarot card deck to use in the film. Though the contractual deal eventually fell through, Dalí continued the project of his own accord, largely thanks to the inspiration of his wife Gala, who had an interest in mysticism

Dalí's interpretation of the Four of Wands card showcases his virtuosic command of artistic technique, with applied gouache creating an otherworldly atmosphere. The central theatrical scene depicts elegantly dressed figures in period dress that evoke both celebration and mystery. Four vibrant green wands frame the composition, adorned with flowing banners and foliage. Above, a decorative cartouche bears symbolic text, while the base features an ornate table with delicate floral motifs. 

Born in Catalonia in 1904, Dalí was formally educated in the fine arts in Madrid, particularly falling under the influence of the Impressionists and the Renaissance masters. At a young age, he became associated with the Madrid avant-garde group Ultra, though he eventually became more acquainted with other movements such as Cubism, Dada and Futurism. By the late 1920s, his mature Surrealist style had already begun to emerge, and in 1929, he officially burst onto the avant-garde art scene with his Un Chien Andalou, a short film he made with Spanish director Luis Buñuel.

Today, he is remembered as one of the most legendary and significant contributors to Surrealism. His Persistence of Memory, with its melting clocks, is arguably the most recognizable painting of the movement. Two museums—one in St. Petersburg, Florida and another in Catalonia—are entirely devoted to his oeuvre; other important works by the artist can be found in the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Art Institute of Chicago, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), among many others.

Circa 1970s

Paper: 12" high x 9 1/8" wide (30.48 x 23.18 cm)
Frame: 29 1/4" high x 25 3/4" wide x 1 1/2" deep (74.30 x 65.41 x 3.81 cm)