The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory was painted in the 1950's (1952-1954) by Salvador Dali. (The Dali Museum, N.d.). The painting is small in size and measures about ten inches by thirteen inches (Wiki Paintings, N.d.). Includes one of the artist's more striking features that is included in many of his works – the melting watch. This painting actually includes three melting watches and suggest that time has some level of fluidity. That time isn't necessarily as static as it may seem. The piece is currently housed in the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida (Choudhury, 2010).
Salvador Dali
A Critical Analysis of the Disintergration of the Persistence of Memory
About the Work
The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory was painted in the 1950's (1952-1954) by Salvador Dali. (The Dali Museum, N.d.). The painting is small in size and measures about ten inches by thirteen inches (Wiki Paintings, N.d.). Includes one of the artist's more striking features that is included in many of his works -- the melting watch. This painting actually includes three melting watches and suggest that time has some level of fluidity. That time isn't necessarily as static as it may seem. The piece is currently housed in the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida (Choudhury, 2010).
FROM THE WORK
The lines in the work are rather blurry and the objects portrayed in a fluid motion as if they are melting away. The lighting is consistent with an outdoor dusk or dawn scene and the light provides reflection of the surface of the water in an aquatic view that provides the background. The space pictured is open and extends considerably into the background. The colors are bold and vivid and the textures appear to be graining but flowing. Time and motion are the most interesting aspects of the painting and the motion of time and the perception time is the central theme in the work. There are a wide variety of different objects displayed such as a broken tree, many fluid clocks, a fish, some brickwork, and a mountain setting that appears in the background among more. There doesn't seem to be one focal point in the work. Rather the viewer is invited to view many different aspects of the painting to try to find a pattern or meaning.
INTERPRETATION
Many people think that the art work was inspired by and incorporates various elements associated with the nuclear explosion that occurred on 1945. Dali had a strong interest in nuclear physics and was heavily influenced by the atomic bombs. The bricks are meant to imitate atoms since none of them are actually touching each other similar to how the particles move within an atom. The pictures portrays a scene that is flooded and both the portions above and below the water are visible which might represent the human psyche and the relativity of time. The work is suggestive that by possessing such a power as nuclear technology that they are now capable of self-destruction. Some of the other elements are rather odd, such as the floating fish; however this is entirely consistent with the surrealist perspective.
Soft Watch at the Moment of First Explosion
Salvador Dali
About the work
The work was produced in 1954 and has themes of time and how the relate to psychoanalysis -- one of Dali's interests.
From the Work
You’re 80% through this paper. Sign up to read the full paper.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.