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Shitakiri (The tongue-cut sparrow)

Salvador Dalí

Epicentrum Art Gallery Poland

Artwork details

Artist

Salvador Dalí

Title

Shitakiri (The tongue-cut sparrow)

Description

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Shitakiri (The tongue-cut sparrow)

Drypoint etching with stencil from 1974.

The edition of XVII/LXXV on Richard de Bas paper.

Dimensions of work: 66 x 52 cm.

Hand signed.

Publisher: Gerschmann, Stockholm/ Yayoi, Tokyo.

Reference: Field 76-1 J; Michler/Löpsinger 744.

The work is in Excellent condition.

Shitakiri (The Tongue-Cut Sparrow) - The moral tale of greed and humility, reminding viewers of life’s true values.

An elderly man’s kindness to a wounded sparrow is repaid with gratitude, while his wife’s greed leads to ruin. Dalí presents this fable as a confrontation between harmony and chaos. The composition juxtaposes delicate avian motifs with angular, disruptive forms — a visual metaphor for moral imbalance. The gentle pochoir tones recall traditional Japanese woodblock palettes, but the psychological tension within the scene is purely Surrealist. It stands as a moral and aesthetic conclusion to the series, merging compassion, transformation, and the search for balance.

Date

1974

Medium

Etching and Drypoint

Edition

XVII/LXXV on Richard de Bas paper

Signature

Signed

Catalogue Raisonne

Field 76-1 C; Michler/Löpsinger 744

Sheet

66 x 52 cm

Status

Available

Price

Price on request

The Artist

Salvador Dalí

The prints of Salvador Dalí are rooted in a rich past. In actuality, Dalí’s prints have a history that dates back to his early years of art school. The young Dalí was taught the fine art of engraving and etching by his mentor. Dalí gained a respect for the technical details of printmaking, a respect he would maintain throughout the rest of his life. The connection between Dalí and graphic prints is in fact intricate and protracted. In his lifetime, Dalí produced just around 1,700 graphic prints. A large number of them are hand-signed, limited-edition editions. Some are regarded as some of the best prints created in the 20th century.