The Persistence of Memory (Salvador Dali)

Melting clocks that redefined how we picture time/Art & Sculpture

Salvador Dali painted The Persistence of Memory in 1931, reportedly inspired by the sight of Camembert cheese melting in the sun. The small oil-on-canvas work is one of the most recognizable paintings of the 20th century, depicting drooping watches draped across a barren landscape. Despite its enormous cultural impact, it is surprisingly tiny, measuring just 24.1 by 33 centimeters. It hangs in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.