The Persistence of Memory

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The Persistence of Memory

• Dali and Surrealism

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What do you see? Your first reaction.What
elements, Principles, Exaggeration, distortion,
Metamorphosis?
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What is Surrealism?

• Surrealism started as a literary and political
  movement but also had a profound effect on visual
  art such as painting, photography and film.

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What is Surrealism?

• These artists were influenced by the idea of
  uncovering your subconscious which is basically
  using dreamlike imagery that challenges
  perceptions of reality.

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Timeline

• 1914 - 1943

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1914 marked the beginning of Surrealism with De
Chirico. The below painting is Mystery and
Melancholy of a Street.
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1924-25 artists such as Miro, is an example of a
style of drawing that was unique to surrealists
called automatic drawing. This meant that the
artist would basically try to draw without
planning but it was later discovered that Miro
did plan his works. This painting is titled
Harlequins Carnival.
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In 1931, Dali painted this painting, The
persistence of memory.
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How does this painting reflect Surrealism?
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Possibly the most famous of all surrealist works
is the below painting by Dali, it is a small
painting that many people call simply the melting
watches. The painting is approximately 9 x 13
inches and has an enormous amount of detail. The
painting shows a bleak, arid, decayed landscape
populated by odd creatures which some say is the
artist. The watches are said to represent time
not only stopping but melting away. Perhaps in
this work Dalis fantasy, his dream, is to
triumph once and for all over time.
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What is the evidence of the analysis of Dalis
painting?
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What is the evidence of the analysis of Dalis
painting?

• Melting Clock The distortion is suppose to
  create something unfamiliar and that time has
  melted away.
• Insects For Dali, insects were associated with
  decay.
• Olive Tree It is a dead olive tree it is suppose
  to stress the dreamlike and desolate character of
  the landscape. Traditionally the olive tree is a
  symbol of peace, and plenty.

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What is your final reaction to it?
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Magritte

• What is your first reaction?
• Why is it surreal?
• Explain what you see?

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Magritte, The Listening Room, 1952

• Magritte liked to put together things that were
  common everyday objects and put them in unusual
  scales or places.

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