Can You See All Three Images Hidden In This Tattoo?

Salvador Dali is one of the most influential surrealist painters in art. His work (and mustache) have become iconic in the last century as well as extremely popular subject matters for tattoos. When it comes to surrealism, Dali is the master who can convince the viewers of his art that the impossible things they see painted before them could actually exist in reality.

Take a look at this gorgeous black and grey piece above by the New Zealand based tattoo artist Matt Jordan. While Jordan is best known for his incredible realism and portraiture, his spin on a Dali-inspired black and grey surrealist piece might be one of his greatest tattoos to date. Combining elements of portraiture, surrealism, and optical illusion, Jordan was able to render the likeness of Dali and his mustache in a wonderfully trippy, yet skilled fashion. Take a close look at Dali’s face and you might see three nude figures appear to shape his facial bone structure, but take a step back and more figures emerge to make a full traditional skull. (Hint, the skull’s jaw line is where Dali’s “hand” is.)

Through the skillful (or should we say “skullful”) use of shading and a well-planned design, Jordan is able to create three images in one: a skull, a group of people, and the portrait of the great surrealist painter. This amazing tattoo and the tremendous amount of detail, thought, and care that went into rendering such a fun surrealist piece is proof of how iconic Dali has been years since his passing. Now, his influence surpasses just painting, but stems forth to tattooers and art appreciators alike.

For more amazing surrealism tattoos, check out some of our top picks right here. Also, make sure to check out more from tattoo artist Matt Jordan while you’re at it!