Salvador Dali is considered to be one of the greatest artists of all time, especially talented in the style of surrealism. His work can be recognized all over the world. His most famous painting, which he completed in 1931, is called "La persistencia de la memoria" or

 "The Persistence of Memory." It depicts a desert of vivid oranges and blues with melting stopwatches scattered throughout the image.  This painting has become iconic because the idea of memory, time, and nostalgia is relatable to all. By examining Salvador Dali's surrealist painting, "The Persistence of Memory," you are able to interpret that the symbolism of the melting clocks is a metaphor for the concept of time, specifically the past.

Salvador Dali is a famous surrealist painter who was popular throughout the 20th century. Just as he was interested in art, he was intrigued by science. He often studied the works of Sigmund Feud, particularly focusing on his theories concerning psycho-analysis ("Persistence of Memory.") This can be credited for his interest in the subconscious. Most of his paintings are based off of ideas he saw within his dreams, and he draws inspiration from psychosis and hallucinations. Because of these factors, Dali has created some of the most abstract, interesting, and surreal images the world has ever seen. His mixture of surreal images painted in a realistic manner has led to his worldwide recognition and fame. His most renowned painting, however, is called "The Persistence of Memory."

Perhaps one of the first things you notice in the painting is the color. Dali is famous for his use of bright and vivid colors in his art. The brilliant oranges and browns of the desert are complimented by the cool blues and yellows of the sky above it, reflecting on the water. He uses his home country, Spain, as his inspiration for the landscape. Despite this, he decided to paint a general scene of rocks and coves by the sea to create a familiar feeling for viewers ("The Persistence of Memory.") While the painting has many elements, perhaps your eyes are first drawn to the unusual rock in the middle of the painting, shaped like a human head. He was inspired to paint this after seeing something similar at Cape Creus, a peninsula near his hometown of Figueres, Spain ("The Persistence of Memory.") The left side of the painting has far more components than the right, which is primarily negative space. A block shaped, desk-like object is placed in the left corner with melting stopwatches atop it. Three of the clocks in the painting are shown elongated, misshapen, and wilting like melted cheese. One of the watches, however, is intact, yet ants are attacking it. The others rest next to an olive tree with chopped branches and no leaves, as if it were dying. 

It is often difficult to explain Dali's art considering most of his inspiration stems from dreams or self-induced hallucinations, often referring to his own work as "hand painted dream photographs." But, the concept of "The Persistence of Memory" is far clearer than most of his other paintings. Despite the obvious theme of time and memory due to the melting pocket watches, inspiration from Dali's own childhood and hometown created another aspect of nostalgia in this artwork.  He uses the standard images of rocks by the sea to create a sense of familiarity and nostalgia to anyone who shares a love for the seaside as he did, causing the image to resonate with many spectators. The head-shaped rock in the center of the painting is especially symbolic. The head lies on the ground; eyes closed and tongue out. The head is depicted in a dream state, which sets a tone for the entire painting. The melting clock resting atop of him shows how irrelevant time is in this subconscious state, and the floating sea and unusual images might suggest the entire painting is set in a dream state, which was a huge inspiration for Dali. Another interesting piece to this painting is the fourth stopwatch that, unlike the others, is not melting. However, this watch is covered in tiny ants. The ants seem to be attacking the clock, representing the anxieties that result from stress about time. As the clock ticks on and time slips away, the ants swarm the hands in attempts to destroy the only working clock. The other soft clocks represent the warping of time as you grow older; memories change or grow fuzzy with age. They also challenge the concept of time; drawing attention to the idea that time is man made and not necessarily real. This led many to believe he was inspired by Einstein's theory of relativity, which "predicted that the space-time around Earth would not only be warped but also twisted by the planet's rotation (Redd.)" Despite all these allegations, the only commentary Dali has ever made on the painting's meaning is that it was inspired by soft, melting, Camembert cheese on a hot day.

Although Dali never truly explained the meaning of his paintings, it is interesting to analyze his surreal works. From the vivid colors to the dreamy head to the melting clocks, symbolism is everywhere in this painting. His inspirations drawn from science create another element of wonder to his art, prompting spectators to really evaluate the concept of time. Also, the use of inspiration from his own hometown and upbringing add a feeling of nostalgia, which most can relate to. These aspects allow spectators to interpret the painting in order to make the meaning personal to them. When asked about the meaning of this painting, Dali joked and said it meant "nothing more than the soft, extravagant, solitary, paranoiac-critical Camembert cheese of space and time ("Persistence of Memory".)" 

