Salvador Dalí

SALVADOR DALÍ (Figueras, Girona, 1904 - 1989).
"Self-portrait.
Reconstituted stone.
Signed.
Measurements: 50 x 25 x 25 cm.

In this bust Dalí is represented at a mature age, with his head slightly raised, a gesture that reinforces the image of pride and theatricality so associated with the artist. The prominent mustache, curved upwards, is one of Dalí's most recognizable features and here becomes a central expressive axis of the portrait.

The modeling is expressionistic, with marked surfaces, visible traces of sculptural work and a deliberately rough treatment. It includes part of the torso, where Dalí's characteristic clothing is suggested, treated schematically, almost as a field of textures rather than as a descriptive detail. This integration of the body reinforces the sensation of sculptural presence.

The work is made of reconstituted stone, a composite material that allows to reproduce sculptural models with great fidelity. Its dark, matte finish enhances the play of light and shadow on the irregular surfaces, accentuating the dramatic character of the portrait. This material was especially used in serial editions or high quality decorative sculptures, very common in the second half of the 20th century.

Beyond its material character, the bust functions as a condensed image of the Dalí myth: eccentric genius, provocative figure and creator conscious of his own mise-en-scène. The elevated gaze and the almost heroic gesture reinforce the construction of the artist as a visionary and unrepeatable character.