meaning of "taking it in all at once"

[kjc0123]

What is the meaning of "taking it in all at once" in the following sentences?

Swallowing her apprehension, Sophie moved slowly across the room. After everything she'd heard about the Mona Lisa, she felt as if she were approaching royalty. Arriving in front of the protective Plexiglas, Sophie held her breath and looked up, taking it in all at once

[andy hughes]

In this context, the phrase means to appreciate the painting in one look - rarther than analysing individual aspects of the Mona Lisa - her smile, the background, the light and shade and so on. Sophie is looking at the whole portrait to see the whole effect. Are you enjoying 'The Da Vinci Code'? It is quite hard going!

[Peter Pedant]

Keep up the good work with the Da vinci code! kay-jay

 

If you go into a room and notice at the same time, three children playing in one corner, the dog sleeping by the fire and a meal on the table, then you take all three details in at once. The alternative is to notice them in order, one and then the other and then the third.