The works were created between 1951 and 1960, when Dalí produced 100 watercolours – one for each canto of the poem – which were later turned into woodcuts and prints.
They bear his distinctive visual signature – fluid forms and elongated figures – making them a personal interpretation of the poem rather than a literal illustration.
The project had a turbulent origin: the Italian government initially commissioned Dalí to illustrate the poem for the 700th anniversary of Dante's birth, but the choice proved controversial.
Critics argued that a Spanish artist known for unconventional work was not suited to interpret a text so deeply rooted in Italian culture and Catholic tradition.
The debate reached the Italian parliament and the contract was cancelled – yet Dalí pressed on, completing the series with the help of a French publisher.
The exhibition is part of celebrations marking the museum's centenary.
The Zamojskie Museum is housed in 17th-century Armenian merchant houses in Zamość – a Renaissance town founded in the 16th century and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.
It runs until June 14.
(ał)
Source: PAP