DALI GALA: (1894-1982) ´ Les amities de Dali´

DALI GALA: (1894-1982) ´ Les amities de Dali´

DALI GALA: (1894-1982) Russian artist´s model and muse, the wife of Paul Eluard and later of Salvador Dali. A rare A.L.S., Gala Eluard, to the verso of a decorative colour postcard with a pink perforated deckled edge and a quaint image of swallows flying over a country river applied to the centre, n.p. (Paris), n.d. (14th November 1930), to Valentine Hugo (´Chere Madame´), in French. Gala states that they very much regretted Hugo´s indisposition and her cancellation of Wednesday´s meeting, further remarking ´Voulez-vous me prevenir par un mot quel soir pourez vous venir diner chez moi (7 rue Becquerel) a partir du lundi prochain´ (Translation: ´Please let me know in writing which evening you can come to dinner at my house (7 rue Becquerel) from next Monday´) and concludes by sending ´Les amities de Dali´ (Translation: ´Best regards from Dali´). Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Gala. A wonderful letter of good association which also links Gala with the two most important men in her life, Eluard and Dali. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

Valentine Hugo (1887-1968) French artist and writer associated with the French Surrealists. Valentine was the wife of French artist Jean-Victor Hugo (1894-1984), the great-grandson of novelist Victor Hugo.

Gala´s letter is written at a very significant time in her life. Gala and the French poet Paul Eluard (1895-1952) had first met and fallen in love at the age of seventeen and were married a few years later in 1917. With Eluard, Gala became involved in the Surrealist movement and was an inspiration for many artists. In August 1929 Gala and Eluard travelled to Spain to meet the emerging Surrealist artist Salvador Dali. An affair quickly developed between Gala and Dali which soon led to the break-up of Gala´s marriage with Eluard (although the two would remain close). Gala married Dali in 1934, having lived together since 1929. The present letter, signed Gala Eluard, was written just over a year after Gala first met Dali, for whom she sends regards to Hugo.