The Ambassadors
Hans Holbein the Younger
A double portrait with a skull that emerges from an oblique view.
EXPLORE THE DEMONSTRATION
Swans and trees above a lake become elephants in its reflection.
Open the Foundation’s reproduction. Find the swans above the water, then follow their necks into the reflection and look for elephant trunks. Compare the trees with the reflected legs.
View the painting at the Dalí Foundation ↗Illusions in painting / 1937
Swans Reflecting Elephants
Swans and trees above a lake become elephants in its reflection.
TRY THIS
Open the Foundation’s reproduction. Find the swans above the water, then follow their necks into the reflection and look for elephant trunks. Compare the trees with the reflected legs.
FOLLOW THE SOURCES
History, evidence & image credit
Frequently asked questions
What is Swans Reflecting Elephants?
Swans and trees above a lake become elephants in its reflection.
What should I look for in Swans Reflecting Elephants?
Open the Foundation’s reproduction. Find the swans above the water, then follow their necks into the reflection and look for elephant trunks. Compare the trees with the reflected legs.
What explains Swans Reflecting Elephants?
Reflected necks suggest trunks, while the birds and tree shapes help form elephant heads and legs. The painted reflection supports a second interpretation of the objects above it.
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.