Dali's Mustache

Cult classic and collector’s item, Dali’s Mustache is the result of the astonishing artistic collaboration between surrealist Salvador Dalí and experimental photography pioneer Philippe Halsman. Dalí and Halsman were friends as well as professional collaborators for more than three decades. 

Subtitled A Photographic Interview, the concept of the book is one short question presented to Dalí, which Dalí answers, followed by a corresponding black-and-white photograph by Halsman. The photographs are intentionally absurd and hilarious. Early editions of this book came with a warning on the back that said “Warning! This book is preposterous.”

Question: "I have the feeling, to have discovered your secret, Salvador. Could it be that you are crazy?"
Answer:  "I am certainly saner than the person who bought this book."Philippe Halsman (1906-1979) was born in Latvia and began his photography career in France. In the 1930s, using a twin-reflex camera that he designed himself, Halsman photographed many prominent artists and intellectuals including Le Corbusier, André Gide and Marc Chagall. He moved to the United States with his family in 1940, with assistance from Albert Einstein, who helped the photographer obtain an emergency visa. Halsman spent the next 30 years as one of the most prolific photographers in America. No other photographer ever matched Halsman’s record of 101 cover portraits for LIFE magazine.