Shunboshi (Little one-inch) (Japanese Fairy Tales), 1974

"Shunboshi (Little one-inch)" is a drypoint, etching and stencil on Arches created by Salvador Dalí for his 1974 series "Japanese Fairy Tales." From the edition of 300, the artwork is signed 'Dalí' lower right and annotated lower left. The artwork is framed in a gold-tone acanthus leaf frame and has a framed size of 36 x 31". The artwork ships framed and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Salvador Dalí’s "Shunboshi (Little One-Inch) (Japanese Fairy Tales), 1974," is one of the imaginative prints from the artist’s celebrated "Japanese Fairy Tales" portfolio, a series that demonstrates his lifelong fascination with mythology, folklore, and the power of storytelling. Created as a drypoint, etching, and stencil on Arches paper, the series adapts traditional Japanese legends through Dalí’s unmistakable Surrealist vision, transforming familiar narratives into dreamlike, psychologically charged compositions.

The tale of Shunboshi, often translated as “Little One-Inch,” tells the story of a tiny boy who, despite his diminutive size, overcomes enormous challenges through intelligence, bravery, and perseverance. Comparable in spirit to Western fairy tales such as "Tom Thumb," the story celebrates the triumph of wit over physical strength. Rather than illustrating the narrative literally, Dalí distills its themes into symbolic imagery, allowing the viewer to experience the story through emotion and imagination rather than sequential events.

This interpretive approach defines the "Japanese Fairy Tales" series as a whole. Rather than functioning as straightforward book illustrations, the prints are independent works of art that merge Eastern literary traditions with Dalí’s deeply personal visual language. Elongated forms, unexpected juxtapositions, and fluid, metamorphic figures create compositions that feel suspended between reality and dream. The combination of drypoint and etching provides delicate linear detail, while the stenciled color introduces luminous passages that heighten the work’s theatrical atmosphere.

The portfolio also reflects Dalí’s broader interest in cultures beyond Europe. Throughout the later decades of his career, he increasingly drew inspiration from world mythology, religion, literature, and history, treating these subjects not as historical documents but as universal sources of symbolism. In the "Japanese Fairy Tales" series, he approaches traditional stories with imagination rather than ethnographic precision, creating works that invite viewers from any cultural background to engage with timeless themes of courage, transformation, and wonder.

Today, "Shunboshi (Little One-Inch)" occupies an important place within Dalí’s graphic oeuvre. The "Japanese Fairy Tales" portfolio remains highly regarded for its refined printmaking techniques, distinctive subject matter, and successful fusion of Eastern folklore with one of the twentieth century’s most recognizable artistic voices. For collectors, the series offers an opportunity to acquire works that move beyond Dalí’s iconic melting clocks while showcasing the same inventive imagination and technical sophistication that define his most celebrated prints.