Published circa 1970, this striking original poster reproduces one of Salvador Dalí's expressive mythological compositions depicting Poseidon (Neptune), the powerful god of the sea in Greek and Roman mythology. Combining fluid pen work with vivid splashes of red, the composition demonstrates Dalí's remarkable ability to reinterpret classical mythology through the lens of Surrealism and his unmistakable artistic imagination.
The central figure portrays Neptune seated majestically with his iconic trident, surrounded by graceful female figures rendered in Dalí's spontaneous, almost calligraphic line. Rather than pursuing anatomical precision, Dalí favors energetic strokes and loose forms that evoke movement, emotion, and theatricality. Brilliant accents of red animate the otherwise monochromatic drawing, creating dramatic visual tension while emphasizing the divine authority of the sea god.
Throughout his career, Dalí frequently revisited themes drawn from classical mythology, religion, literature, and Renaissance art. Mythological figures such as Neptune provided him with an opportunity to merge timeless symbolism with his highly personal visual language, where dreamlike imagery, expressive draftsmanship, and psychological intensity coexist. The resulting compositions feel both ancient and unmistakably modern.
The poster itself reflects the growing international appreciation of Dalí's graphic work during the late 1960s and early 1970s. As museums, galleries, and publishers sought to make his imagery more widely accessible, high-quality original posters featuring his paintings, drawings, and prints became increasingly popular among collectors and admirers of Surrealism.
Unlike Dalí's meticulously rendered oil paintings, this composition highlights another important aspect of his artistic practice: his extraordinary command of line. The seemingly effortless drawing possesses an immediacy and vitality that reveals the artist's exceptional draftsmanship while allowing the mythological narrative to remain open to interpretation.
Today, this original circa 1970 poster is appreciated both as an elegant decorative work and as a collectible example of Dalí's graphic legacy. Its dramatic composition, classical subject matter, and expressive execution appeal equally to collectors of Surrealism, twentieth-century modern art, mythology-inspired works, and vintage exhibition and art posters.
Original Poster
Exhibition - Mythology - Horse
Printed by Arte in Paris
Good condition, small tear
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