The Persistence of Memory

surrealism · art · time · dreams

A Surreal Masterpiece. Salvador Dalí painted this famous artwork in 1931, and it's one of the most recognizable Surrealist paintings ever made. Surrealism is an art movement that tries to paint dreams and the imagination instead of real life.

Melting Clocks. The painting shows watches that are drooping and melting like cheese or candle wax. This strange image makes us think about time in a totally new way, as if time isn't as solid and unchangeable as we assume.

Museum Home. An unknown person bought the painting for $250 in 1932 and donated it to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City just two years later. It's been there ever since, where millions of visitors come to see it.

Pop Culture Star. The painting is so famous that people reference it all the time in movies, TV shows, and other artwork. Its melting clocks have become symbols of time, dreams, and the surreal.