Works exhibited

Salvador Dalí – one of the most talented artists of the modern era, who staged his works and himself in the most spectacular ways. “Surrealism for all” – this is the spirit in which over 450 of the original exhibits of this enigmatic personality are permanently on view in our museum at Potsdamer Platz. This institutional cultural highlight provides visitors with the most comprehensive insight into Dalí’s virtuoso and experimental mastery of almost all art techniques, right in the center of Berlin.

Don Quichotte de la Mancha

1956/57

Don Quixote de la Mancha

12 Lithographs + 1 Additional Image

The story of Don Quixote was written in the 16th century by Miguel de Cervantes. This story is historically considered to be the first fictional book ever written.
The ambitious publisher Joseph Forêt successfully convinced Dalí to create the illustrations to Don Quixote for a luxurious book edition with the lithographic process. Dalí worked for the first time in his career with this technique. In order to revolutionize this technology, Dalí used rhinoceros horns and an Arquebuse (a gun from the 15th century). The explosive character caused by the gun appears in many single images of the series.

Die Apokalypse des Hl. Johannes

1958-1961

The Apocalypse of St. John

3 Mixed-Media-Graphics

This unique work, at the time the most expensive book in the world, originates from an idea by the French publisher Joseph Forêt, who also was Dalí's friend. Dalí created three mixed-media-graphics for this series. To accomplish his works, Dalí constructed bombs which he filled with nails and then set off against copper plates. Also, he used a steam roller to run over a sewing machine between two copper plates.
The value of the book was estimated at about $ 1 million.

Der Dreispitz

1959

Le Tricorne

20 Xylographs (without single titles)

The Three-Cornered Hat, a Spanish novel written in 1874 by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón. Dalí illustrated this series in 1959 using the French translation Le Tricorne.

Die Göttliche Komödie

1960

The Divine Comedy

101 Xylographs (without single titles)

The Divine Comedy is the most extensive book illustration ever created by Dalí. It contains 100 single illustrations and 1 additional image.
Written by Dante Alighieri between 1302 and 1319 in Italy the book is considered as a pinnacle of world literature.
Dalí was commissioned to illustrate The Divine Comedy by thy Italian culture minister for the 700th anniversary of Dante's birth in 1956, for which a new edition of the great work was to be printed. This, however, led to a scandal because a Spanish man was asked to illustrate this Italian masterpiece. The order was withdrawn and Dalí finally sold his mammoth work to his friend and publisher Joseph Forêt, who published the book in France in 1960.

Collagen

1962

Collages

Different Techniques

As a universal artist Dalí liked to play with different art techniques in his work.
The collages in the museum present picture puzzles which emphasize Dalí’s genius.

Pater Noster

1966

Pater Noster

11 Etchings

From the 1950s, Dalí devoted himself to religious themes in his artworks more and more.
Pater Noster illustrates probably the most famous Christian prayer "Our Father".