© Salvador Dalí, Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation/Bildupphovsrätt 2024
L’Énigme de Guillaume Tell
Artist
Salvador Dalí
(Spanien, 1904 - 1989)
Alternate Title
- The Enigma of Wilhelm Tell
- Wilhelm Tells gåta
Date1933
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsBildmått: 201,5 × 346,5 cm
Ram: 237 × 382 × 6,5 cm
ClassificationPaintings
Credit LinePurchase 1967 (The Museum of Our Wishes)
Countries
On view
StockholmRoomCorridor floor 4
Object NumberNM 6069
CollectionsThe Museum of Our Wishes
About the artworkThe Enigma of William Tell was painted the year
Hitler and the Nazis seized power in Germany. Symbols such as the melting clock
in a desolate landscape have become synonymous with surrealist imagery. The
picture is dominated by a human-like figure with a gigantic buttock. A walnut
shell cradle with a tiny person is in danger of being crushed underfoot. Dalí
has said that the tiny creature is his lover, Gala, and that the male figure
represents his father, who opposed his relationship with a married woman. But
the facial features and the iconic peaked hat are reminiscent of the Soviet
leader, Lenin. Dalí strove to "photograph the subconscious", as he
put it. The painting is an enigma, giving many clues but no answers.
Selected exhibition history Supersurrealismen (den 29 september 2012 - den 27 januari 2013) Moderna Museet Malmö Samlingsutställning 2004 - 2011 - I vår tid (2004 - 2011) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Salvador Dali (1973-1974) Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie, Frankfurt Samlingsutställning 2019-2022 (den 1 februari 2019 - den 27 augusti 2023) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Internationell Surrealism (1998) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Ny presentation av samlingen (2000-2002) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Mästerverken åter. Verk av spanska konstnärer ur Samling S. runt den återbördade Picassos Källan. (1995) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museets samling i ny presentation (1998-2000) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues The Masterpieces are back! : Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [May 6th - August 27th 1995]Salvador Dali : Moderna Museet, Stockholm : 26 december 1973 - 24 februari 1974Mästerverken åter! Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [6 maj - 27 augusti 1995]
Selected exhibition history Supersurrealismen (den 29 september 2012 - den 27 januari 2013) Moderna Museet Malmö Samlingsutställning 2004 - 2011 - I vår tid (2004 - 2011) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Salvador Dali (1973-1974) Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie, Frankfurt Samlingsutställning 2019-2022 (den 1 februari 2019 - den 27 augusti 2023) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Internationell Surrealism (1998) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Ny presentation av samlingen (2000-2002) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Mästerverken åter. Verk av spanska konstnärer ur Samling S. runt den återbördade Picassos Källan. (1995) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museets samling i ny presentation (1998-2000) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues The Masterpieces are back! : Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [May 6th - August 27th 1995]Salvador Dali : Moderna Museet, Stockholm : 26 december 1973 - 24 februari 1974Mästerverken åter! Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [6 maj - 27 augusti 1995]