Art and Survival

If I had the opportunity to rescue three modern works of art from being burnt or destroyed, I would choose Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali, Guernica by Picasso, and The Kiss by Gustav Klimt.

Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali

Persistence of Memory is arguably Salvador Dali’s most well-known painting and that’s one main


reason I have chosen this artwork. Salvador Dali is one of my favorite artists, so I absolutely want to save one of his most favorite paintings. I cannot find any information on whether or not the piece was commissioned, however it is currently in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Manhattan. The painting was made with oil on canvas, so Dali absolutely had to be a skilled painter in order to create this artwork. He was the first person to create “dreamscapes” with this art and that style gained a lot of popularity. The artwork is known for its melting clock, long face with an awkward nose, and the dreary desert landscape. As one of the speakers in Dali, the Persistence of Memory points out, “We try to measure [time] out. We try to constrain it and define it in some way that makes sense to us”. Salvador Dali’s melting clock could be seen as time running out or as people trying to gain more time. Either way, this frame of mind and thought process is one that’s fairly universal. During a period of revival when the earth is being rebuilt after a massive explosion, humans will need to remember that time is a valuable resource.

Guernica by Picasso


When I considered what painting has proven to show a strong social impact, the first painting that came to mind is Guernica by Pablo Picasso. This painting was commissioned by the Spanish government in January of 1937 (Arnheim, 1973). The intention was for the mural to be placed on its building at the World's Fair in Paris (Arnheim, 1973). Even though Picasso received this commission in January, he did not start on the first sketch for this painting until “Saturday, May 1, 1937, less than a week after Hitler's military airplanes had attacked and vastly destroyed the Basque town of Guernica” (Arnheim, 1973). The intention behind the mural was to show the death and destruction that had devasted Picasso’s homeland. The painting was completed in 1937.The painting is a haunting black and white image showing multiple animals and figures on fire inside of a home. The painting is full of symbolism, from the woman holding her dead child in the corner of the painting to the bird that is meant to show peace (Arnheim, 1973). The painting is clearly “anti-war” and is currently on display at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.
Guernica tapestry in the U.N. 

The combination of imagery, symbolism, and passion behind the painting makes it clear that Picasso
was one of the few painters at that time that could have painted this. His personal connection to the issue adds an undeniable depth to the imagery and message that this painting communicates. Its message still holds true to today. In fact, in 2003 when Colin Powell addressed the United Nations regarding starting a war with Saddam, the U.N. arranged for a tapestry of the painting to be covered with a blue sheet because it would be behind Powell as he made his appeal. Ultimately, the reason I want to save this piece is because if/when human civilization comes together to rebuild the earth we need to be reminded about the consequences of war.

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt

After a period of harsh travels and possibly fighting off zombies, I want to go to a museum and look at a painting that makes me believe in love. I want a painting that gives me a slight bit of hope. For that task, I have chosen The Kiss. The Kiss was completed in 1908. If each piece represents a different key aspect of life such as dreams and war, then The Kiss represents love. The Kiss was also created with oil on canvas and shows exemplary painting skills. As Dr. Steven Zucker points out, the sense of the “spiritual… they are lost in the intensity, the eternity, of the kiss”. It’s so easy to get lost in the love within that painting. The abundance of gold and the clear love that each subject has for one other makes this painting jump out of its frame! After researching this piece, I learned through Artchive that the painting was commissioned by a count who gave Klimt a medallion of his lover for reference. Klimt ended up falling in love with the female subject of the painting (The Kiss)! Perhaps that tidbit of information can be the first article of gossip that humanity shares.


References

Arnheim, R. (1973). Picasso's Guernica: The Genesis of a Painting. Los Angeles: The Regents of the University of California.

Dowd, Maureen. “Powell Without Picasso.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 5 Feb. 2003, www.nytimes.com/2003/02/05/opinion/powell-without-picasso.html.

Harris, Dr. Beth, and Dr. Steven Zucker. “Gustav Klimt, the Kiss (Video).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, 21 June 2012, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/later-europe-and-americas/modernity-ap/v/gustav-klimt-the-kiss-1907-8.

Khan, Sal, and Steven Zucker. “Dali, the Persistence of Memory (Video).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, 11 Dec. 2012, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/dada-and-surrealism/xdc974a79:surrealism/v/salvador-dal-the-persistence-of-memory-1931. Salvador Dalí. the Persistence of Memory. 1931 | Moma, www.moma.org/collection/works/79018. Accessed 20 Nov. 2023.

“The Kiss (1907-08) by Gustav Klimt.” Artchive, www.artchive.com/artwork/the-kiss-gustav-klimt-1907-08/. Accessed 19 Nov. 2023.

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