Salvador Dalì, Act I, Scene IV, screen printing, 31x42 cm, from Romeo and Juliet, 1975

The screen-print is taken from the slipcase containing the ten illustrations Salvador Dalì realized in 1975, for the tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” by Shakespeare.
In the work here presented, the artist illustrates Scene IV of Act I, the moment in which Romeo and some of his friends are headed to Capuleti's palace, where Juliet's father has organized a masqued ball. As a matter of fact Romeo, because of the ancient rivalry between Montecchi and Capuleti families, could have entered only if hidden by a mask. Romeo falls in love with the beautiful Juliet, and he declares her his love. Without recognizing the identity of her admirer, she returns the interest.
The screen-print is signed on the left bottom by Salvador Dalì, and it is presented in a velina carrying some verses of the illustrated scene:

“L'intenzione nel recarci a questa mascherata,
non sarebbe cattiva, anche
se l'andarci non segue poi una decisione giudiziosa.”
(ACT I, SCENE IV)