While examples of small-format paintings are present throughout Dalí’s career, the eight years under examination—1929 to 1936, arguably the apex of Dalí’s artistic career—witnessed sustained attention to this format; nearly half of the approximately 200 known paintings completed by the artist during this time measure 13 inches or smaller. This exhibition, which brings together a representative selection of small-format paintings from this period, considers the potential sources of inspiration for these minute masterpieces. Of particular interest is Dalí’s early, and lasting, admiration for the work of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675). Photography, as well as photomontage and collage, are also considered as influences. The project also includes a technical study of a selection of these paintings by Claire Barry, director of conservation at the Kimbell Art Museum, which continues the work she first performed on The Fish Man three years ago. This research aims to provide a better understanding of Dalí’s artistic technique and working process during the 1930s, which is considered in correlation to the artist’s small-format paintings.

This exhibition has been organized by the Meadows Museum and funded by a generous gift from The Meadows Foundation. Promotional support provided by VisitDallas and The Dallas Morning News.

Image: Salvador Dalí (Spanish, 1904–1989) The Accommodations of Desire, 1929 Oil and cut-and-pasted printed paper on wood · 8 3/4 x 13 3/4 in. (22.2 x 34.9 cm) · © Salvador Dalí, Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, (ARS), 2018. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection, 1998; 1999.363.16