Salvador Dali's Persistence of Memory

by David Beaulieu June 15, 2021

10 fun facts about

Salvador Dalí’s

Persistence of Memory

1 0 fun facts about Salvador Dalí’s Persistence of Memory

The Persistence of Memory, 1931 from the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York

The Persistence of Memory, 1931 from the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York

Did You Know?

A vision. Dalí would attempt to enter a meditative state of self-induced psychotic hallucinations so that he could make what he called " hand-painted dream photographs ”.

Success came early . The painting was first shown in 1932 at the Julien Levy Gallery in New York City. The press and the public went mad for Dalí who was only 28 years old at the time.

Anonymous donor. The painting was purchased after the gallery show and was donated anonymously to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 1934. It has been a highlight of the museum’s collection ever since.

A view of the painting (on the left) at the MoMA.

It’s small! Don’t expect anything big. This canvas measures only 9.5” x 13” (24 cm x 33 cm).

Inspired by cheese? Dalí once said that his true muse for the melting clocks was a wheel of Camembert cheese that had melted in the sun .

Self-portrait? The weird profile in the middle of the painting might be Dalí himself.

What’s in a name? Melting clocks, soft watches, droopy watches, Persistence of Time… This painting is known by many different names.

Ants! The orange clock at the bottom left of the painting is covered in ants. Dalí often used ants in his paintings as a symbol of decay .

Childhood memories. The craggy rocks to the right represent a tip of Cap de Creus peninsula in northeastern Catalonia. Many of Dalí's paintings were inspired by the landscapes of his life here.

The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory , 1952-54 from the collection of the Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.

More melting clocks! In 1954, Dalí revisited the composition of The Persistence of Memory for a new work , The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory .

From Our Collection

Dreaming of cheese, melting clocks or owning a little piece of Dalí’s genius? Head to our store to find fun (and officially licensed) collectible items.