Harpo Marx

Currently not on view

Harpo Marx

1937

Salvador Dalí (Spanish, 1904–1989)

Dalí's admiration for the horn-honking, trench-coated Harpo Marx, the second oldest and most charismatic of the Marx Brothers, led him to create this portrait of the sweet-natured comedian during a visit to Hollywood in February 1937. The drawing makes reference to an elaborate harp, assembled with barbed-wire strings and adorned with teaspoons and forks for tuning knobs, that Dalí had sent to Harpo as a Christmas present two months earlier. Harpo was so delighted with the strange musical instrument that he immediately sent Dalí a photograph of himself with bandaged fingers, thus pretending that he had unwittingly plucked the barbed-wire strings with his bare hands.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Harpo Marx

Date:

1937

Artist:

Salvador Dalí (Spanish, 1904–1989)

Medium:

Graphite and ink on coated card stock

Dimensions:

Sheet: 17 3/4 x 14 inches (45.1 x 35.6 cm)

Classification:

Drawings

Credit Line:

The Henry P. McIlhenny Collection in memory of Frances P. McIlhenny, 1986

Accession Number:

1986-26-8

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Currently not on view