Lincoln in Dalivision

Lincoln in Dalivision

Artist	Salvador Dalí (1977)
Owner	Levine & Levine 1976

Lincoln in Dalivision is an original limited edition lithograph created by Salvador Dalí. It is often considered one of the most counterfeited Dalí lithographs.^[1][2] Dalí authentication experts who have noted the counterfeiting issue with this work include Albert Field (The Official Catalog of Graphic Works of Salvador Dalí – authorized by Dalí),^[3] Frank Hunter (Dalí Archives – authorized by Dalí),^[4] Robert Descharnes (French photographer, long term friend and associate of Salvador Dalí)^[5] and Bernard Ewell (Bernard Ewell Art Appraisals, LLC).^[6] Lee Catterall comments in his book The Great Dalí Art Fraud & other deceptions, "The painting most commonly reproduced for such fraudulent purposes was Lincoln in Dalivision, 'prints' of which Los Angeles art appraiser Dena Hall testified in the Hawaii trial have become as commonplace as 'pancakes at the pancake house.'"^[1][7]

Lincoln in Dalivision was created based on the Dalí painting Gala looking at the Mediterranean Sea which at a distance of 20 meters is transformed into the portrait of Abraham Lincoln (Homage to Rothko). Dalí painted two original versions of this painting spanning from 1974 – 1976, which are similar but not exactly the same. The first resides in the Museum in Figueras, Spain. The second resides in the permanent collection of The Salvador Dalí Museum in Saint Petersburg, Florida.^[8] This painting is the basis for the Lincoln in Dalivision lithograph. Prior to the acquisition by The Salvador Dalí Museum, the painting resided in Japan.^[3]

Significance of Lincoln in Dalivision

Dalí's paintings Gala looking at the Mediterranean Sea which at a distance of 20 meters is transformed into the portrait of Abraham Lincoln (Homage to Rothko), and the original Lincoln in Dalivision lithographs produced from these paintings were some of the first examples of the photomosaic artistic approach by a recognized artist. "The Recognition of Faces," by Leon Harmon (Scientific American, November 1973) was the first published work on photomosaic concepts. Harmon was a Bell Labs researcher who had been developing this concept, and the first image in this article was the well recognized portrait of Abraham Lincoln from the U.S. five dollar bill made from a collection of solid gray mosaics.^[9] Dalí began his first painting that led to Lincoln in Dalivision in 1974 and finished the version that would be used for Lincoln in Dalivision in 1976. Harmon's Lincoln mosaic was the basis for all of Dalí's Lincoln photomosaics, which is evident by comparing the solid gray mosaics from Harmon's paper and the final works of art by Dalí.

Dalí's paintings Gala looking at the Mediterranean Sea which at a distance of 20 meters is transformed into the portrait of Abraham Lincoln (Homage to Rothko) was completed in 1976 and displayed at The Guggenheim in New York during the US Bicentennial in 1976. Lincoln in Dalivision was originally intended for release in the same year, but was not finalized until 1977. Dalí moved to the US in 1940 when German troops entered Bordeaux, France. He remained in the US until 1948, then returned to Spain upon the conclusion of World War II.^[10] Dalí spent significant time in the US, even after returning to Spain.

Lincoln in Dalivision published editions

Lincoln in Dalivision was primarily published by Levine & Levine in New York in 1977. All editions were signed and numbered, with the exception of those marked HC. Total production was 1240 "lithographs" in the following editions:

• 1 – 350 on Arches paper [Distributed by Martin Lawrence Limited Editions, Van Nuys, California, i.e. American Edition]
• E1/350 – E350/350 on Arches paper [European Edition]
• G1/125 – G125/125 (Publisher Grafos Verlag, Vaduz, Germany)
• EA1/75 – EA75/75 on Japon paper [épreuve d'artiste, i.e. Artist's Print]
• AP1/75 – AP75/75 on Japon paper [Artist's Print]
• HC 65 [hors de commerce, i.e. not for sale] – 65 unnumbered and unsigned prints used mainly for promotional purposes
• I/CC – CC/CC on Arches paper

The prints were originally sold at a price of $750^[6] and a small viewing optic lens in a blue case was included with the purchase. While viewing photomosaics by squinting your eyes is common today, the optic piece was included to help viewers see the Lincoln illusion from close range.

Due to the extensive counterfeiting and forgeries of Dalí's signature, Lincoln in Dalivision, expert authentication is usually required to confirm authenticity of this work. Many experts who can typically authenticate various works via pictures and measurements only, require viewing Lincoln in Dalivision in person before they will authenticate the piece. Frank Hunter of the Dalí Archives requires that he views this work in person before providing a statement of authenticity.

For a "print" released in a rather large quantity of 1240, Lincoln in Dalivision is a surprisingly rare work to come up for auction at major auction houses. Artnet.com shows only a handful of Lincoln in Dalivision sales by auction houses over the past decade.

Respected galleries, including The Salvador Dalí Gallery^[11] (California) do list Lincoln in Dalivision in their inventory from time to time. Prices for authenticated works are often listed at prices ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 (per a search of publicly displayed prices on gallery websites done in 2012). Those with authentication by Albert Field or Frank Hunter appear to carry a slight premium in pricing to other pieces deemed authentic by galleries or other authentication experts.

Lincoln in Dalivision is often referred to as a "print" or "lithograph." However, neither of these are technically correct, as these terms have specific meanings when referring to original works of art that are created in limited editions. Lincoln in Dalivision is truly a mixed media artwork. It is technically a photolith with original etched remarque (Torrents) and embossing. While the photolith is from the painting, the etched remarque and embossing does make Lincoln in Dalivision an original Dalí. Additionally, the signature of Dalí and the numbering of the limited editions also establishes these works as originals. Lincoln in Dalivision is listed in Albert Field's The Official Catalog of Graphic Works of Salvador Dalí – authorized by Dalí as an original work^[3] and is viewed as such by galleries worldwide.

References