Salvador Dalí and Me

Salvador Dalí is my favorite painter, and this painting of Abraham Lincoln has always been my favorite work. When I was a child, I went through a phase were I was obsessed with Abraham Lincoln. I read every biography that I could get my hands on. I have visited his memorial in Washington D.C., the Ford Theater, where he was shot, his home in Springfield, Illinois and his grave, which is also in Springfield. I have also been to Gettysburg and in eighth grade memorized the Gettysburg Address. When I say obsessed, I mean OBSESSED! I do not remember when I first was this painting, but I am sure that it was during my Lincoln phase. I remember the first time that I saw a “Magic Eye” print. I thought that it was just a modernization and mass production of what Dalí had already done years ago. This image is from this website. The name of the painting in Spanish is Gala desnuda mirando al mar que, a una distancia de 20 metros, se convierte en el retrato de Abraham Lincoln (Homenaje a Rothko). Dalí was not big on short titles. In English, it would be Naked Gala Looking at the Sea that from a Distance of 20 Meters converts into a Portrait of Abraham Lincoln (Homage to Rothko). 

The eerie thing about this painting is that it is also the favorite of Douglas’ mother. She has the print hanging in her living room. I was speechless the first time that I visited her house. I guess that is why Douglas loves us both so much, because we have such good taste in art! Here you can see her print hanging to the left of where we are doing a puzzle with our niece and nephew, one of whom is being tickled.

While I was visiting Barcelona, I made a special trip to Figueres to visit Dalí’s “Theater Museum,” Figueres Teatro Museo Dalí. I could not find an official site in English, but here is some information. The coolest thing about this museum is that Dalí set it up before he died, so you are seeing his art work the way that he wanted it to be seen. He is also currently in a crypt in the basement. Figueres was his hometown. I had no idea that this painting was there. I wish that someone had captured on video my reaction when I turned a corner, and there it was. I was beside myself, and my roommate at the time who was with me at the museum could not figure out what was going on because I could not form coherent sentences for quite a while. It is one of the great moments of my life. He took this picture of me in front of the painting.

I have an 8″ x 10″ print of the picture in my photo album, but I have always wanted to have a bigger copy. When I found out that it was possible to make canvas prints of pictures, I was determined to have one of this photo. I had one made at CafePress. They were having a 50% off special, and I believe that I paid about $80, but I am not positive about that. I had the canvas made about two years ago. It has been hanging in my living room ever since, and I love it!

What is your favorite picture? I suggest that you put it on your wall.

Happy Homemaking!