Salvador Dali France / Spain (1904-1989) The Hand (La main), from Hommage ? Meissonier, 1967 original color lithograph on thick paper Print made by At?lier Desjobert. Catalogue: Lopsinger / Michler 1178. Descriptive note inside matting. Biography from Bonhams Bond Street: Although Salvador Dal? is best known for his Surrealist paintings, he was also an accomplished book illustrator. His illustrations belong to the same eccentric universe as his paintings, often featuring strange creatures within dreamlike landscapes. These illustrations draw their vitality from Dal?'s freedom of interpretation as well as his deep understanding of the text at hand. William Shakespeare's (1564-1616) groundbreaking plays were among Dal?'s most important influences and favourite subjects to illustrate, as he came back to the bard's work throughout his career. Macbeth, As You Like It and Romeo and Juliet were among the plays he illustrated in print and designed sets and costumes for. Despite being separated by centuries, Dal?'s and Shakespeare's works share common themes and tropes, including dreams, the subconscious mind and fantastical characters in outlandish settings. Shakespeare's particular emphasis on the complex psychological states of his characters also foreshadowed the developments of modern psychology, which greatly influenced Dal? in turn. The present work is key in this regard. In the 1946 edition of Macbeth published by Doubleday, New York, it is used to illustrate Ross's lines from Act II, scene IV: And Duncan's horses (a thing most strange and certain), / Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race, / Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, / Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make / War with mankind. Ross and the Old Man in the scene go on to remark that the horses ate each other. Despite this violence taking place off-stage, Dal? deliberately opted to illustrate the passage with gruesome detail. His illustration crams the horses together in a chaotic tussle, with the left horse notably missing its pupil, as though possessed by an otherworldly force. The bursting of the horses' broken bones through their flesh is a macabre element added by Dal? rather than Shakespeare. Therefore, Dal? infuses the source material with his own creative interpretation, as his impeccable draughtsmanship graces the scene with a finesse and beauty that counterbalances its violence. 10 3/4"H x 8 1/2"W (sheet), 19 3/4"H x 15 3/4"W (mat)