Salvador Dali's Persistence of Memory

Not only is Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory one of his most famous masterpieces, but it is arguably one of the most recognizable paintings to come from the Surrealist movement.  Within its claim to fame are the symbolic, warped looking clocks melting over tree branches with a single intact pocket watch in the corner covered with swarming ants (one of Dali’s signature symbols).  Rendered in Dali’s hallmark hues of brown, blue, and yellow, this highly universal painting was completed by the Spanish painter in 1931 and since then it has been widely interpreted.  For instance, the most central figure of the piece is a fetus-like head washed up on the shore seemingly gasping for air.  The figure has been interpreted in a multitude of ways, some saying it’s a monster others saying it’s a depiction of Dali himself.  Also, many would dispute the symbolism between the melting clocks and the pocket watch with the ants. Although Dali never outwardly explained their meaning, they are widely acknowledged as symbolizing Dali’s perception of time and anxiety, reality, birth and death, and sexual desire.  But what, you ask, makes this strange and deranged painting so incredibly popular?  Well, perhaps it could be the stoner’s allure to the trippy, hallucinatory vibe and its almost dream-like quality.  Perhaps it could be the philosopher’s enticement to decipher the science and psychology behind Dali’s motivations.  Or maybe it is the intellectual’s drive to uncover the mystery sealed up inside the profound meaning and symbolism of this complex piece.  Whatever the reason, the viewer cannot help but become attracted to this particular Dali painting and all of its fascinating intricacies.