Provenance:
Dargaud, Paris, France

Certificate:
Accompanied by a written certificate of authenticity issued by André Schoeller, Paris, January 23, 1997.

Bibliography:
Maurizio Vanni: Surrealisti tra Ragione e Istinto. Collana “Prometeo”, Vol. 13, Poggibonsi, 2005,
Col. Repr. p. 6.

Exhibitions:
Focus Figure – 30 Years of DIE GALERIE, DIE GALERIE, Frankfurt/ Germany, September
2 – November 7, 2009.
Spanish Figurative Art, DIE GALERIE, Frankfurt/ Germany, June 5 – August 25, 2007.
Max Ernst und sein surrealistisches Umfeld, DIE GALERIE, Frankfurt/Germany, November
8 – January 13, 2006.

Introduction:
The Ying and the Yang are the two great principles of Chinese Taoism. Yin is the feminine, negative
and passive principle, Yang is the masculine, positive and active principle. At times, they oppose, at
others, they combine, but if they are separated, no manifestation of any kind is no longer possible.
Both principles, when combined, constitute the Unity of Tao.

These notions can be found in very old Chinese texts, Tchang Tchen Jen Kin Che Ling Cha Louen
(VIIIth century) and Han-Wou-Ti Nei-Tchouan (VIth century), translated for the first time into French.
After reading them, Salvador Dalí created a whirlwind: “The creation of cosmos”. This plate shows a
motion comparable to that of the svastika. This is the motion of cosmic creation recalling the world
was created in the form of nebulas and spirals. Everything is set around the central representation of
the Yin and the Yang as if particles of energy were being projected.

The figures at the top of the plate are references to the text entitled “Inner story of the Emperor Wu of
the Han”. The Emperor had asked two goddesses to give him their Taoist secrets but they, in turn,
insisted on getting some guarantees. After long hesitations, they finally agreed and asked the Holy
Green Youth, their messenger (the very one who is called Mercury or Messenger of the Gods in other
mythologies) to convey the recipes of immortality to him.