“Les Éléphants” (1948) by Salvador Dalí, limited reproduction

Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) is one of Spain's most distinctive artists and the leading figure of Surrealism. His provocative works captivated the masses and shocked the art world. Dalí understood painting as an expression of his imagination, influenced by dreams and hallucinations as well as Freud's psychoanalysis. After being expelled from the Academy in Madrid, he nevertheless studied the Old Masters, an influence that resonated in his paintings. In 1928, he joined the Surrealist circle and met Gala, who became his muse. Besides painting, Dalí also worked in film, including with Buñuel on "Un Chien Andalou" (An Andalusian Dog). After an eight-year stay in the USA—where he worked in fashion and advertising—he returned to Spain and integrated religious and mythological themes into his work. His bizarre visual language combines absurd objects with surrealist elements, creating a dreamlike reality that, despite its abstract nature, exhibits astonishing realism. Provocation remained a central element of his artistic philosophy.