
Vénus de Milo aux tiroirs
1964
A bronze rendition of the classical *Venus de Milo*, reimagined by Salvador Dalí with a series of partially open drawers protruding from the figure's torso, thighs, and knees. The surrealist transformation of this iconic ancient sculpture challenges perceptions of the human body as a vessel of hidden psychological depths, drawing on Dalí's fascination with Freudian theory. The cool permanence of the bronze medium contrasts with the whimsical, dreamlike quality of the drawers, embodying the tension between classical beauty and surrealist disruption.
- Medium
- bronze
- Dimensions
- Location
- Phillips, Salt Lake City, UT
- Spotted At
- Auction House · PhillipsView on map
Notes
Execution: Conceived in 1964 and cast in 1988, this work is artist’s proof EA 3 from an edition of 8 plus 4 artist's proofs marked EA, 2 non-commercial proofs marked HCM and 1 foundry proof marked HCF.
🔨 Auction Lot
New Now
March 12, 2024
Estimate: $180,000 to $250,000
Sold: $127,000
Lot 55
More by Salvador Dalí
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Artists in conversation

Meret Oppenheim
Swiss-German · b. 1913

Oppenheim similarly transformed everyday or classical objects through surrealist interventions, infusing familiar forms with uncanny psychological tension as seen in her fur covered teacup and other object sculptures that challenge perception.

Hans Bellmer
German · b. 1902

Bellmer's sculptural work obsessively reimagined the female body as a fragmented and psychologically charged object, sharing Dalí's Freudian preoccupations and his surrealist approach to the human figure as a vessel of hidden desires and anxieties.

Duane Hanson
American · b. 1925

Hanson created highly detailed figurative sculptures that used the classical tradition of depicting the human body while embedding deeper psychological and social commentary, paralleling Dalí's technique of layering conceptual meaning onto a recognizable figurative bronze form.
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