Présentation d'un tableau en Anglais, La persistance de la mémoire

"The Persistence of Memory"

This painting was painted in 1931 by Salvador Dali. He was one of the most famous painters in Spain with Pablo Picasso, inventor of cubism.

These pocket watches seem to blend into a dreamlike and strange setting that represents the beach of Port Lliga, Catalonia. This beach, with its distant steep rocks, was dear to the artist's heart. The sky is twilight. Unusual objects, in addition to flowing watches, are present on this canvas. We find the corner of a wooden table and another watch, this one rigid, attacked by ants, in addition to a tree that seems to emerge directly from the table and a strange figure in the center of the painting. This figure is livid and has a closed eye with long eyelashes.

the symbolism of certain elements brings all experts in agreement. This painting can be interpreted as a derision of the passing of time, of the passage from birth to death, of the path of life. Soft watches are indeed all stopped. Time has become elastic, like pocket watches. Memories, like these watches, distort themselves to become soft, malleable things, where time no longer counts. It also reflects the passage to eternity, the symbolism of death.

Fact :

Dali came up with the idea of these soft watches at a dinner party, looking at a camembert melting on a tray.

Fiche mots clés

in 1931 by Salvador Dali

Museum of Modern Art in New York since 1934.

Dalí used here the most characteristic elements of his surrealist period to develop a universal theme: time and death.

was one of the most famous painters in Spain with Pablo Picasso (cubism.)

These pocket watches seem to blend into a dreamlike and strange setting (represents the beach of Port Lliga, Catalonia.)

This beach, with its distant steep rocks, was dear to the artist's heart

The sky is twilight

Unusual objects

flowing watches

corner-> wooden table and another watch, this one rigid, attacked by ants, in addition to a tree that seems to emerge directly from the table and a strange figure in the center of the painting. This figure is livid and has a closed eye with long eyelashes.

This painting can be interpreted as a derision of the passing of time, of the passage from birth to death, of the path of life

Time has become elastic, like the pocket watches

The result is a work that is both emblematic of Dalian's work and universal in scope.

quote from Dali" forever linked to this Portlligat - which means linked port - where I have defined all my raw truths and roots. I am only at home in this place; elsewhere I camp. "

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