Vintage Dali Alsace Poster, Salvador Dali, Butterflies, SNCF, travel tourism, 60cmx37cm, Chemins de fer Francais, wall art 1970s

Vintage Dali Alsace Poster, Salvador Dali, Butterflies, SNCF, travel tourism, 60cmx37cm, Chemins de fer Francais, wall art 1970s

In 1969, Salvador Dali created a series of posters for the SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français) (English: French National Railway Corporation), highlighting the different locations travelers could visit by using France's train system. This is the one for the "Alsace".
Note: the language in the footer may vary
Dimensions: 23.6 in x 14.6 in (60 cm x 37 cm)
Condition: some slight edge wear, see photos.

In “Alsace,” Dalí has focused on the fantastic Romanesque and Gothic architecture of Strasbourg in this historic and beautiful region of France. In collage, we see part of the Strasbourg Cathedral or Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg. Dalí’s surrealist twist here puts a kind of red cape around the image, giving it human-like characteristics, together with butterfly wings that fan out loosely on either side of the central figure. (In fact, this 6-piece print portfolio has alternately been called the “Butterfly” series.)

In some ways “Alsace” is a bit darker than the others in the series, in that Dalí used heavy black for the suggestion of the butterfly wings, and the scene appears under an overcast if not storm-threatening sky. Perhaps all the more reason to be comfortable inside the modern French Railway system’s cars!

As is often the case with Dalí, from the standpoint of technique, in “Alsace” he melds a fairly tight rendering of the background cathedral with a looser spontaneity of brushwork in the foreground. It adds up to that Dalínian earmark that makes a work by this 20th century master exclusively his own, predictably fascinating, and eminently collectible!

Other destinations included Paris, Alpes, Auvergne, Normandie, and Roussillon. They were presented to the public at the Gare de Lyon (one of the six large mainline railway station termini in Paris, France) in 1970, where Dali called the series a "gift to the State."

Because of the age of these posters, there are areas of wear and tear, particularly on the edges. I have done my best to take photos where they are torn or stained. The good news is that when framed, the tears press up well against glass, and edges can be hidden by mats. Any wear picked up from years are part of the vintage charm.

When framed these colourful and detailed posters, with vibrant colours can become a centre piece for any room, to remind us of a simpler time.

These posters are sent as unframed. They will be delivered in a cardboard tube for protection.

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