Philippe Halsman - Dali Atomicus, 1948

Philippe Halsman, Dali Atomicus, 1948.

A surrealist masterstroke that captures not just a moment —but an idea made airborne.

With the inscription "Philippe Halsman copyright Magnum Photos" in the lower right corner. Digital print on 10" x 7.5" glossy photo paper. Fine condition. Printed Lated, 2000's.

Listed by TIME Magazine as one of the Top 100 Photographs of All Time, Dali Atomicus remains one of the most iconic examples of surrealist photography ever created —and it was done without a single digital effect.

This bold collaboration between Philippe Halsman and Salvador Dalí took 26 attempts, a flying chair, three live cats, a bucket of water, and a perfectly timed jump to capture. Each element floats in suspension —water, canvas, animals, artist— evoking Dalí’s atomic-era painting Leda Atomica, visible behind him.

More than a portrait, it’s a performance —a choreographed explosion of chaos paused in midair, where physics, absurdity and vision collide.

Philippe Halsman was one of the most innovative photographers of the 20th century, celebrated for his visionary collaborations with Dalí and his groundbreaking portrait work. His legacy stands alongside Man Ray, Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Helmut Newton, Diane Arbus, and other giants of the era.