People, Nov. 10, 1980

"I said that I would return when the swords flowered," declaimed Salvador Dali, 76, quoting from a Catalan poet "and ja soc aqui [I am here]. I shall be so brief that I have already finished." Thus began a slightly surreal press conference in the artist's home town of Figueras, Spain, that ended his mysterious six months of seclusion. To bring poetry to life, Dali carried an elaborate, eagle-headed sword and distributed tuberoses to reporters. His costume was no less vivid: a leopardskin coat and red barrenita cap. Answering questions in French, Spanish...

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