Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) Spanish, Lithograph Print "Le Cheval de Labeur (The Workhouse)". Lithograph print of Dali's piece The Workhouse, depicting a plough horse as it struggles under the lashing of its master. Signed lower right. Authentication verso. Framed.

Le Cheval de Labeur (The Workhorse) is a lesser-known but symbolically rich work by Salvador Dalí, created as part of his later explorations into allegory and surreal reinterpretations of traditional motifs. In this piece, the workhorse—long a symbol of toil, endurance, and humility—is rendered with Dalí’s characteristic blend of realism and distortion, often depicted with exaggerated musculature or set within a dreamlike, barren landscape. The painting can be interpreted as a meditation on labor and sacrifice, elevating a humble figure into one of mythic weight. As with many of Dalí’s later works, it reflects his evolving interest in classical symbolism, spirituality, and the dignity of human struggle, all filtered through his signature surrealist lens.

Overall Size: 26 x 18 1/2 in.
Sight Size: 22 x 14 1/4 in.

Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) was a Spanish surrealist artist renowned for his eccentric personality, technical mastery, and dreamlike, often bizarre imagery that challenged conventional perceptions of reality. Born in Figueres, Catalonia, Dalí trained in classical techniques but became most famous for his work in the Surrealist movement, producing iconic paintings such as The Persistence of Memory, which features melting clocks in a desolate landscape. His art drew heavily on psychoanalytic concepts, particularly those of Freud, blending meticulous detail with irrational, hallucinatory subject matter. Beyond painting, Dalí was also active in sculpture, film, fashion, and design, cultivating a flamboyant public persona that blurred the lines between artist and artwork. His legacy endures not only in major museums worldwide but also in the Teatro-Museo Dalí in his hometown, which he designed as a surrealist masterpiece in itself.