Gala Contemplating The Mediterranean Sea Which At Twenty Meters Becomes A Portrait Of Abraham Lincoln” , By Salvador Dali, 1974 Editorial Image

Dali's title - Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea Which at Twenty Meters Becomes the Portrait of Abraham Lincoln (Homage to Rothko) - provides a perfect description of this painting. Standing close, we see Gala with her back turned to us, looking toward the rising Mediterranean sun. That glowing sun doubles as an image of Christ, seen from above, ascending. In this way, Gala directs our attention heavenwards and reminds us of the fleeting nature of beauty. But when we stand further back, twenty meters, as the title prescribes, we can see that the head of Abraham Lincoln fills the entire canvas.