Melting Clocks, Timelessness, and Placidity: Dali's World in The Persistence of Memory.

Dali uses thought provoking images to stimulate personal response in this painting.  At first glance, the viewer’s eye is directly brought to the image of the melting clocks.  These timepieces appear to be hanging from a tree, sliding off a table, and resting on a face.  They give the impression that time has no limits and is completely amorphous.  In addition to the melting clocks, there is a gold pocket watch swarmed by ants.  Throughout his painting career, Dali used ants as a symbol of death and decay.  The apparently impertinent images intend to portray the idea that time is expired, disintegrating, and limitless, however, the two share relevance.  The condition of the two types of clocks represents the different states at which time is found.  The stop watch portrays the message that time eventually disintegrates and holds no bearing, while the melting watches demonstrate its ability bend.  The perception that time is unstructured suggests people too should mold; breaking from the misconception that time is rigid.  This coincides with Dali’s belief that in order to truly experience the virtues of life, one must be willing to extend from common societal convictions.    

The artist’s imagery continues in the ambiguous creature resting on the ground.  This is, arguably, a profile of Dali used in his paintings for artistic representation.  The slug-like being appears asleep, implying there’s a sense of calm amongst the timelessness.  The fact that one of the shapeless clocks is upon the face, infers that tranquility and the irrelevance of time correspond to one another because when harmony is reached, time drifts away.  Also, despite the abnormal surroundings, the figure continues to slumber, demonstrating that peace can remain unaltered if the being will succumb to its natural instincts.  This depiction of Dali himself alludes to the interpretation that he is offering his anomalistic lifestyle as an example for others.  The face’s extreme disfiguration exemplifies the contorted values of a capitalistic world where the primary goal lies in acquiring assets.  

Throughout this work of art, soft, tranquil colors become the primary focus points.  The melting clocks are accented by a distinguished teal tone.  This hue draws immediate attention to the impressionable clocks because it deviates it them from the rest of the painting.  The central theme is able to become more clear and distinct since the eye is automatically brought to watches.  This intended emphasis allows the viewer to gain insight into the purpose of the piece before moving on to additional aspects.  Furthermore, the watches’ surroundings are shaded with more organic, earthy tones, adding to the element of contrast.  The browns contribute to the mildly warming effect that creates a soothing sensation, and give the impression that the setting could be universal and apply to everyone.  

        Through Salvador Dali’s scrutiny of modern social practices and beliefs, the audience comes to a new degree of awareness, suggesting that greater success comes from observation, rather than earnings.  His incongruous juxtapositions of melting clocks, decaying stop watches, and rocky cliffs find relevance in peacefulness, providing the lingering and perplexing impact intended in The Persistence of Memory to reform conventional perceptions. The halcyon mood he creates sculpts the theme that true prosperity can be found in the simple pleasures of life, and in order to attain this understanding, one must be able to detach themself from the bindings of time.