This simple yet strong image of a hand appeared both as a lithograph in Dali's portfolio, Homage a Meissonier, and as a study for a key element in what some consider Salvador Dali's single greatest masterpiece: the huge and colorful Tuna Fishing of 1967-1968. Take a look at that massive canvas and direct your attention to the large male figure at right, which assumes nearly the full 10-foot height of the picture. His right hand is clearly the result of this interesting maquette.

A curious aside about this work. The original Dali Museum in Beachwood used to offer a reproduction of The Hand for sale in its gift shop - but it displayed it upside down, not realizing what it actually was! Even the description was abstract form, or words to that effect. It's a curious bit of Daliana, and reveals that sometimes even those closest to the artist were not always certain just what this genius was trying to tell us.

Clearly, however, The Hand is a purposefully drawn example of Dali's draftsmanship and mastery of anatomical subject matter, and recalls some of the sketches from the notebooks of masters like Leonardo and Raphael.

The subject of a hand seems perfectly logical for Dali, who always proclaimed that the hand of the artist was far more important and timeless than, say, the art of the musician, whose creative product was more transitory. Painting, crafted by the skillful hand of the artist, was the superior medium of artistic expression, in Dali's view. Because the present work is a maquette, certain instructional notations can be seen on the paper surrounding the image. 1967"