The Ambassadors
Hans Holbein the Younger
A double portrait with a skull that emerges from an oblique view.
EXPLORE THE DEMONSTRATION
A close view of Gala looking at the sea becomes Lincoln’s portrait from farther away.
Open the museum’s reproduction and find Gala facing the sea. Then reduce the image size or move farther from the screen, looking for Lincoln’s eyes, beard and face in the larger colour blocks.
View the painting at The Dalí Museum ↗Illusions in painting / 1976 — second version
Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea — Abraham Lincoln (Second Version)
A close view of Gala looking at the sea becomes Lincoln’s portrait from farther away.
TRY THIS
Open the museum’s reproduction and find Gala facing the sea. Then reduce the image size or move farther from the screen, looking for Lincoln’s eyes, beard and face in the larger colour blocks.
FOLLOW THE SOURCES
History, evidence & image credit
Frequently asked questions
What is Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea — Abraham Lincoln (Second Version)?
A close view of Gala looking at the sea becomes Lincoln’s portrait from farther away.
What should I look for in Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea — Abraham Lincoln (Second Version)?
Open the museum’s reproduction and find Gala facing the sea. Then reduce the image size or move farther from the screen, looking for Lincoln’s eyes, beard and face in the larger colour blocks.
What explains Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea — Abraham Lincoln (Second Version)?
Small details dominate nearby; at a distance, larger blocks of colour combine into Lincoln’s face. A screen reproduction changes the scale, so the viewing distance in the title is not a fixed requirement for every display.
Another way to see it
Explore this category
Vertumnus
Giuseppe Arcimboldo
Rudolf II appears as a face assembled from fruit, flowers, and vegetables.
Slave Market with the Disappearing Bust of Voltaire
Salvador Dalí
Two figures beneath an arch become the eyes of a much larger face.