What the picture actually shows
The image is not a photo of an animal but a computer 3D model of a humanoid creature: two arms, two legs, an elongated cone-shaped head with no visible ears, two large black bulging eyes, and a tuft of stiff dark 'hair' or spikes on the crown. The body surface is matte and dark gray, with ring-like folds on the neck that resemble corrugation. The creature stands in an empty light-blue room with no textures or props, which is typical of character test renders or screenshots from a short video.
The pose is neutral: the creature has tilted its head slightly and looks ahead with an expression that can be read as confused or timid. There are no captions, logos or watermarks on the image, which makes it hard to trace the original source from the picture alone.
Mismatch with the catalog title
The title “The Seal Lifts Its Head” and the image of “a seal's surprised face that became a template for photo-parodies” point to another, real internet phenomenon, but the picture has no visual connection to it. There is no link between this creature and the “seal” meme: neither the pose, the anatomy nor the style (3D render versus photograph) match.
What is known about the 'Seal Lifts Its Head' meme
The meme itself, judging by the title and tags in the catalog (2020, 'Animals'), refers to a viral photo of a seal that lifted its muzzle and seems to look straight into the camera with a reproachful expression. The shot became widely known in early January 2020, after a Twitter user under the name David East posted it. The angle and the play of light created an illusion of a 'human' face: the seal's 'mustache' looked like a combed-over fringe, and its pursed muzzle read as a displeased grimace.
According to analyses of this story, the published version of the photo was slightly edited and therefore looked noticeably more 'human' than the original, though the original seal photo was no less strange. Within a few days the frame spread across social networks and became the basis for dozens of photoshop parodies (called 'fotozhaby' in Russian): the seal was drawn as a rapper from the 2000s, given a 'kind' version of its muzzle, and shown in an ironic version with a motivational caption about dreams.
Origin not established for the shown image
The origin of the image of the dark horned creature is not established: it is not known which cartoon, game, advertisement or art project this render comes from. The title and author are also unknown, so only a description of what is visible in the image is given below.
How the 'seal' meme format is used
The actual seal meme is most often used as a reaction to a silly, awkward or mildly disapproving situation: the caption is added on behalf of the seal itself, as if it were commenting on what is happening from the side. Typical captions look roughly like 'When I accidentally overheard the whole conversation I wasn't supposed to hear' or 'Are you really sure this was a good idea?' The format relies on the contrast between the deliberately strange face of the animal and a mundane, relatable everyday situation.
