The Profile of Time, 1984 by Salvador Dali

Dali most famous and persistent image, the soft watch, was first seen in his 1931 painting The Persistence of Memory. One of the soft watches hangs limply from the branch of a dead tree; this particular image has been used for Profile du Temps. Made from bronze, the Profile du Temps was cast and conceived in 1984. A green and brown patina has been applied to parts of the bronze to afford it the illusion of age and solidity as a contrast to the "soft" appearance of the watch. The patina also gives the metal on the tree more of an appearance of wood.

Dali placed his soft watches against hard objects, such as rocks or trees, to emphasize their malleable state. Here the watch seems to be dissolving it has become so soft, the bottom melts into huge drops that look as if they will soon fall. The brass on the watch has been polished so that the shine will help the metal gain the appearance of liquid. Dali used the "soft watch" as an image through which he could explore the idea of time. The watches' softness implies disintegration, recalling the transitory nature of mankind.