THE PERSISTANCE OF MEMORY // 1931 // OIL ON CANVAS // 24 X 33 CM // MoMA, NEW YORK
THIS PIECE IS A PAINTING OF SOFT MELTING POCKET WATCHES, REPRESENTING SOFTNESS AND HARDNESS, WHICH WAS CENTRAL TO DALI'S THINKING AT THE TIME. IN THE MIDDLE, A HUMAN FACE CAN BE SEEN, A FIGURE THAT CAN NBE FOUND IN MANY OF DALI S PAINTINGS. THAT FIGURE IS CONSIDERED A SELF PORTRAIT IN A SLEEPING STATE, FADING AS FACES OFTEN APPEAR IN DREAMS. THE BOTTOM LEFT CLOCK IS COVERED IN ANTS, OFTEN USED IN HIS PAINTINGS. THEY REPRESENT DEATH, DECAT AND AN IMMENSE SEXUAL DESIRE. THE ROCKS IN THE BACKGROUND'S RIGHT REPRESENT A TIP OF CAP DE CREUX PENINSULA IN CATALONIA.