Surrealism in Dali's "Persistence of Memory"?

Question

I am unsure exactly how Dali's "Persistence of Memory" is a good example of Surrealism -

Answer 1

Look at the picture. There's some dead animal in the back, and a whole bunch of droopy clocks all over the place. If that isn't surreal, then I don't know what is...

Answer 2

Dali's painting is, in my opinion, probably the best example of Surrealism.

In simple words a surrealist composes images with surprising dreamy combinations between reality and fantasy with no intention of making the work logically comprehensible.

In 'Persistence...' - First, you have a blank landscape, with no regard to the objects in the painting. Then you have all these nonsensical objects - melting clocks, a melting face, and a tree growing from a table. The objects are scattered in random places, again, without regard to any form of logic.

In a nutshell, that's the best way I can describe it for you.

*Addition* The figure that some responses are equating to some sort of animal, is not an animal at all. It is a face, melting as the clocks are.
Additionally, surrealism is not about themes, nor are they required to be based upon dreams... though some surrealists have composed their images based on waking dreams. Dali's early (surrealism) pieces were all based upon waking dreams, evidenced by another piece entitled "Sleep." Dali later stemmed away from surrealism, and adopted a more traditional style.

Answer 3

Animal Surrealism

Answer 4

It's a perfect example, because everything looks real, but we know it can't possibly BE real. Surrealist painters like Dali took reality and distorted it - or the perception of it, often to reflect or portray irrational thought, a concept or dreams. Persistence is a classic illustration of common objects (clocks) being manipulated (melting) to present a "surreal" concept of memoring flowing and changing over time.

Answer 5

Example Of Surrealism

Answer 6

Look at all the elements that do not normally sit together naturally and therefore challenge the viewer to both look and think.
The challenge (for the viewer) is to accommodate these disparate eelements and become comfortable with the impact of the whole.
You have a time theme represented by pocket watches in an almost fluid form; one draped over an ambiguous animal shape. The landscape, particularly top right is starkly positioned against the block effects of the left hand side.
Then, the dead tree (to accompany the dead/sleeping animal?) perhaps you have a possible message...... but Dali would be the first to say that any message is down to the individual. Not stupid then, was he?!

http://www.essentialart.com/acatalog/SDal_The_Persistence_of_Memory.html

Answer 7

Dali is known as the most famous surrealist artist for his ability to combine realistic images in an unrealistic manner. This creates a surreal or more than real dream-like feeling. The melting time pieces represent the flexibility of time unlike reality. He suggests that it is moveable like a piece of melted cheese.

Answer 8

surrealism is like okay it means it kinda looks real but isnt lol its a bad explaination okay persistence of time is the one with all the clocks melting and stuff all over, the clocks look real but they are like distorted and so is the whole image, a surreal picture is not nessecraliy the whole loooks real thing i said up there, its like a view on the world that someone has, that isnt what u see everyday, ugh, its too hard to explain just think of it as the whole looks real but cant be real idea! lol im soo bad at explaining things...

Answer 9

Beyond the obvious clocks and watches melted over everything the principle character is a montage of parts. It is supposed to show how the memories of your life may warp and may move in weird ways but they are still there. The clocks have changed shapes but have not changed into something else. They are still timepieces. Life is fleeting, memories fade. The collective memories of our society change but do not change. Isn't it amazing how the artist can communicate with others long after their death??

Answer 10

forget what cece m says, dadaism predates surrealism and had anti-art agendas. the picture is a great example of surrealism as it is a dreamlike, nonsensical image with hidden meaning. although dali is the fist to spring to mind when you think of surrealism he was also the most comercial and was booted out of the movement by its leader andre breton because of it. if you want real surrealism you should check out rene magrite, max ernst and giorgio de chirico to name a few.