Comparing The Painting 'The Persistence Of Memory' By Salvador Dali

Imagine you can own one of the famous painting in the world. Which one would it be? What will you do with it? If I got to own a famous painting, I would hang it in my bedroom and I’ll show it to my family. In this situation, If needed to narrow it down it will be The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali or Nighthawks by Edward Hopper. These paintings are extremely different, and their artistic movement is opposite from one another. By the end of this essay, you’re going to know the differences and similarities of these paintings.

The Salvador Dali artistic movement is called surrealism in this style there are very strange and imaginative images. He tries to express the unconscious like in a dream. In The Persistence of Memory painting, there are four droopy watches in an eerie landscape. “If Persistence of Memory depicts a dream state, the melting and distorted clocks symbolize the erratic passage of time that we experience while dreaming.”(Legomenon) This is one example of many of the meanings of this precious painting. This painting was made in 1921 and it was made by using oil on canvas.

On the other hand, Edward Hopper artistic movement is called realism.

In this style, everything is clear like a movie scene or a picture taken by a professional photographer. Robert Henri teachings inspired Hopper to embrace realism in his art. Edward Hopper likes to paint everyday scenes, and he uses shops, homes, and hotels for inspiration. In Nighthawks 1942 by Edward there is a couple and a single man at the counter meanwhile there is another grabbing something under the counter. You can see the people through the glass window. You can also the dark street and buildings around the restaurant. It was made by using oil on

canvas

These two paintings are similar because they use the same material which is oil on canvas. They were both made around the 1900s. Hopper’s and Dali’s paintings have some similar colors like brown, white, yellow and red. In Dali’s painting it's dark except for the mountains and in Hopper’s paintings, it's dark everywhere except the restaurant lights. The clocks in Dali’s painting 7:55 or something close to that and in Edward painting the couple is having a late meal at the diner. Both paintings were made by these distinguished painters in the 20th century. These are the similarities among Nighthawks and The Persistence of Memory.

Generally, I prefer surrealism style because it looks more interesting than a regular painting like the Nighthawks. When I observe The Persistence of Memory watch it reminds me of my grandpa. This piece of art makes me have good memories of my grandpa that’s why I like it. Nighthawks makes feel sad/tired. The couple looks very sad, like if one their parents died. The other customer looks tired if just got finished traveling from a different state or country. The waiter/cashier is working a late shift and probably is tired too. I couldn’t imagine working a late shift, he probably wants to go home and sleep like a bear. If I could own one of these paintings it will be The Persistence of Memory. It will encourage me every time I look at it and also it will remind to check the time.