Dali… Born in Figueres, near Catalonia, Spain

Surrealism Surrealism (Wikipedia) Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s. The aim was to "resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality." Artists painted unnerving, illogical scenes with photographic precision, created strange creatures from everyday objects and developed painting techniques that allowed the unconscious to express itself. Surrealist works feature the element of surprise, unexpected juxtapositions and non sequitur; however, many Surrealist artists and writers regard their work as an expression of the philosophical movement first and foremost, with the works being an artifact.

The Persistence of Memory, 1931 The Persistence of Memory, 1931 Oil on Canvas, 9.5” x 13”

The Painting Is technically very perfect Symbolism – Olive tree  Would normally symbolize peace, but is dead – Clocks are melting  Time is relative (Einstein) Inspired by Dali watching Camambert melt – Ants and flies  symbols of decay – Creature in the center is Dali himself 3 ways to interpret – Still life – Self-portrait – Landscapre

The Disintigration of the Persistence of Memory, 1952 The Disintigration of the Persistence of Memory, 1952 Oil on Canvas, 10” x 13”

The Painting Still technically very perfect “Peels away” the old painting and exposes what’s underneath Everything is broken up into pieces – “Quantization” of the painting – Dali is now following quantum mechanics/atomic physics – The pieces of the painting can be rearranged and re- integrated in different ways – Pieces in the background represent atomic bombs, man’s ability to destroy himself and his civilization Ants are gone, replaced by fish (to Dali, symbol of life), much of the painting is under water Greater use of color and more feeling of movement – No longer a still life?