1931
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"Surrealism is destructive, but it destroys only what it considers to be shackles limiting our vision."
-Salvador Dali
"The Persistence of Memory" 1931 oil on canvas painting by Salvador Dali
Surreal Visions in a Time of Uncertainty: Salvador Dalí’s "The Persistence of Memory" Shakes the Art World
In a world full of unrest and uncertainty, Salvador Dalí’s "The Persistence of Memory" has stopped viewers in their tracks. Unveiled this year in New York, the painting’s dreamlike scene of melting clocks, barren trees, and strange, soft shapes feels both bizarre and strangely familiar. At just 27, Dalí has become a bold voice in the growing Surrealist movement, which pulls from dreams, psychoanalysis, and the chaos of modern life. It’s fitting 1931 has been anything but normal. The Great Depression shows no sign of slowing. Breadlines grow longer, jobs are scarce, and many wonder if things will ever feel solid again. Across Europe, tensions rise, economies falter, and people look for answers anywhere they can .Dalí’s painting doesn’t offer answers, but it reflects our unease. The soft, sagging clocks seem to say that time itself is slipping, like nothing is certain anymore. Critics can debate the meaning, but for many of us, it simply feels true. Everything familiar is changing. Strange and still, "The Persistence of Memory" captures this moment when we’re not sure where we’re going, and nothing feels quite real. Maybe that’s why we can’t stop looking.
"America Today" a mural comprising ten canvas panels, painted with egg tempera in 1930–1931 by Thomas Hart Benton.
"The Voice of Space" 1931 oil painting by René Magritte
"The Rivals" 1931 oil-on-canvas painting by Diego Rivera
Pablo Picasso in 1931
"Figures at The Seaside" 1931 oil on canvas
In 1931, Pablo Picasso is exploring new emotional and psychological depths in his art, influenced by the surrealist movement that had taken hold of the European avant-garde. One of his works from this period, "Figures on the Seaside", stands out for its raw, almost unsettling energy. The painting shows two distorted figures interacting on a beach with bodies twisted in ways that feel both intimate and weird. There’s a sense of tension in their forms, as if they’re caught between connection and conflict. This was typical of Picasso, as he is moving away from more traditional styles and leans into more surreal, using exaggerated shapes and bold compositions to dig into the complexities of human relationships and emotion.
"The Red Armchair"
"The Red Armchair"
"The Sculptor"
"The Sculptor"
"Brother Brown" 1931 watercolor on paper painting by Louis Mailou Jones.
"The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere " 1931 oil on masonite painting by Grant Wood
Current Events
American regionalism rises: Artists like Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton gained attention with portrayals of rural American life. Wood's "American Gothic" (1930) gained fame in the following years.
Great Depression worsens: The global economic downturn continued to deepen. Unemployment and poverty rates soared,
especially in the United States, Germany, and Britain.
Barbara T. Smith (b. Jan 6, 1931): American performance and installation artist, influential in the feminist art movement.
Theo van Doesburg (d. March 7, 1931): Dutch artist and founder of the De Stijl movement (alongside Piet Mondrian), which deeply influenced modern architecture and design.
Khalil Gibran (d. April 10, 1931): Lebanese-American poet and artist, best known for 'The Prophet" (1923), a spiritual and philosophical classic with enduring popularity.
Bridget Riley ( b. April 24, 1931): British painter and a leading figure in OP Art, known for her optical illusions using geometric patterns.
Empire State Building completed May 1: Became the tallest building in the world at the time, a symbol of ambition during the Depression era.
"Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue" 1931 oil on canvas painting by Georgia O'Keeffe
"Woman at the Café" 1931 oil on canvas painting by Antonio Donghi
"Self Portrait in White Tie" 1931 oil on canvas painting by Helmut Kolle
"Christ the Redeemer"
"Christ the Redeemer"
"Christ the Redeemer"
Unveiled to the public on October 12, 1931, "Christ the Redeemer" stands tall atop Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as a powerful symbol of faith and national pride. Designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and created in collaboration with French sculptor Paul Landowski, the monumental statue took nine years to complete, from 1922 to 1931. Standing 98 feet tall with an arm span of 92 feet, it is constructed of reinforced concrete and clad in a mosaic of thousands of triangular soapstone tiles, chosen for their durability and smooth texture. Beyond its striking visual impact, "Christ the Redeemer" represents peace and openness, with arms stretched wide over the city. The statue quickly became one of the most iconic landmarks in the world and remains a beloved cultural and religious symbol in Brazil today.
"Frida and Diego Rivera" 1931 oil on canvas painting by Frida Kahlo.
"Budding Roses in a Vase" 1931 etching print by Giorgio Morandi
"The Crusader" a sculpture created in 1931 by Lorado Taft.
"Adam and Eve" 1931 oil on panel painting by Tamara de Lempicka
Citations:
“1930s.” Obelisk Art History. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.arthistoryproject.com/timeline/20th-century/1930-1939/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJhEwxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHtqGUxdJ1H5Yv-oiirxaPI5x4mShLCb7_8s1Cp6OkIj6LsCD6VFAmQdZTtCv_aem_ISPES0re_FUZM5-IJATtpQ.
“1931 in Art.” Wikipedia, February 24, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1931_in_art.
Bernice Breen, Robert M. Coates. “Modern Art. Article from 1931.” The New Yorker, March 14, 1931. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1931/03/21/modern-art?fbclid=IwY2xjawJhEoRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHpEU7y6knVASMrDeoOQwdf2HmXDijoJbBMgwXevS1s4KKjNl45nWBP-KpRJ9_aem_hdIcDwGkjwNbMb_7RFvQrg.
The Museum of Modern Art, New York City | moma. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.moma.org.
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