The artwork titled “Fifty Abstract Paintings Which as Seen from Two Yards Change into Three Lenins Masquerading as Chinese and as Seen from Six Yards Appear as the Head of a Royal Bengal Tiger” is a distinctive piece by Salvador Dali, created in 1963. As part of the Surrealist movement, this complex painting measures 200 x 229 cm and falls under the genre of animal painting. Currently, it is housed in the Dalí Theatre and Museum located in Figueres, Spain.
The artwork is a large-scale example of Dali’s innovative approach to visual perception and his exploration of optical illusions within the realm of fine art. It consists of a series of painted squares arranged in a diamond pattern on the canvas, with each square featuring a segment of two different images depending on the viewing distance. Up close, the painting appears as an array of seemingly abstract shapes and colors, but when viewed from a distance, these forms coalesce into recognizable images. As the title suggests, at one distance viewers can discern the faces of three figures resembling Vladimir Lenin disguised as Chinese individuals, and from another, the collective pattern represents the majestic head of a Royal Bengal tiger, complete with fierce eyes and sharp fangs. This transformation of the painted surface challenges the viewer’s perceptual experience and underscores Dali’s fascination with the subconscious and the dual nature of reality.
