Mythology Hypnos

MEDIUM: Copper Etching

MICHLER LOEPSINGER CATALOG: 127

FIELDS: 63-3G

DIMENSIONS: 22 x 30 inches

NUMBERED: X/XX on Japon

The Mythology
Dali illustrated Mythology by drawing very closely upon the symbolism of the ancient Greek legends. Using what he called “hasard objectif”(the meaningful manifestation of chance), he would often start with an abstract smudge, created in a single motion, and develop his theme from a sign of Fate, like the Pythia of Delphi who interpreted the Oracle from the smoke coming out of the cave. This is particularly noticeable in his etchings entitled: “Œdipus and Sphinx”, “Theseus and Minotaurus”, “Jupiter”, “Pegasus”, and “The Milky Way”.

When Dali worked on these plates, he experimented with all kinds of unusual tools like chisels, nails or wheels as featured in the “Birth of Venus”, even a real octopus immersed in acid was used, which left an imprint on his “Medusa”.