Hey everyone! Can you believe how quickly time passes? Well let’s ruminate on that a little, what if time was just an elaborate hoax and we are living in a simulation? Just kidding, it’s not that type of blog! Instead let’s dive into the weird and wonderful use of time and clocks throughout art.
Time pieces have been present throughout paintings for decades, whether presented as an accessory in a portrait or a focal point in a still life, clock imagery has held up throughout history. The most famous work featuring clocks is most likely Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory otherwise known as Melting Clocks. The symbolism of the melted clocks mocks the rigidity of time, especially in the world of the subconscious, while the ants crawling over the plate represent decay, as we all know happens to everything over time. To most people time can be a scary thing. As time passes, circumstances and people change whether we want them to or not. In this case the stagnant landscape of The Persistence of Memory alludes to the somberness of human mortality, the clocks melt, the time never changes, and everything stays just as it is.
This isn’t to say that clock imagery is there to remind the viewer of our imminent ends, they also symbolize affluence and technological sophistication. As the years progress, technology changes and paintings with clocks show an interesting history of clocks and the changing decorative styles over the years. They also show the socio-economic background of the sitter, but also the artist of the painting if it is present in a still life.
Clocks themselves are a work of art, from the highly decorative carved cases of Black Forest clocks to simplistic and elegant cases of ship clocks each form holds its own purpose. Although the exteriors stay forever locked in the time period they were created, the movements continue to tick away and changes with the passage of time. How poetic, am I right?
So, whether you are looking for a snazzy new watch, an avid collector of pocket watches, or just really like clocks make sure to check our upcoming Couture, Fine Art, and Live estate auctions! You never know what you might find!
