Have you ever stared at a painting and felt like it was telling you more than just a story? Like it was trying to capture the feeling of time itself—how it flows, stops, or even distorts?

That's what makes painting so powerful: it has the ability to freeze a moment or stretch it out, letting us experience time in ways that go beyond the clock's ticking.

1. Using Light and Shadow to Show Passage of Time

One of the most effective ways artists depict time in paintings is through the play of light and shadow. Think of a scene painted at different times of day: the soft, golden light of dawn, the sharp contrasts of midday, or the muted, soft hues of dusk. These shifts in light don't just tell us when the moment occurs—they tell us how the moment feels.

Artists like Claude Monet have famously used light to show the passing hours. His series Water Lilies captures different times of day with subtle changes in color and light, giving us a sense of both the moment and its passage.

Example: Look at a sunset scene. Notice how the light changes—shadows grow longer, colors become warmer. These shifts tell us not just about time but about the feeling of time slowing down.

2. Depicting Movement Through Repetition

Another way artists record time is through movement—whether it's the turning of a page, the progression of a journey, or a cycle in nature. Some artists repeat elements within a scene to show the passage of time. Take a look at the work of Pablo Picasso, who used repetition in his Les Demoiselles d'Avignon to show a sense of motion.

Each figure seems to change, creating a dynamic, almost flickering effect, as if time is unfolding in front of us.

Example: Try imagining an artist painting a flower opening over the course of several days. By showing the flower in different stages, the artist brings the entire process to life, creating a sense of time unfolding.

3. Chronological Storytelling in Series

Some artists create time by working in series—using several panels or images to tell a story or capture a moment across different periods. This approach is like a visual diary, where each piece represents a step in the passage of time.

One famous example is the Goya's Black Paintings, where the gradual darkening of themes and palette across the series reflects a deepening of time and emotion.

Example: Think of a comic sequence or storyboard in filmmaking. Each frame shows a part of the story, capturing time through a series of changes rather than a single snapshot.

4. Symbolic Depictions of Time

In other instances, artists use symbols to represent time's passage. This could be anything from an hourglass to withering flowers, from decaying fruit to a crumbling building. These symbols serve as visual metaphors, reminding us that time is both inevitable and irreversible.

Salvador Dalí's The Persistence of Memory is perhaps one of the most famous examples of this. His melting clocks aren't just quirky symbols—they reflect the idea that time is fluid and ever-changing, bending to the will of the mind.

Example: An artist might paint a tree with changing seasons, symbolizing the passage of years through its transformation. Each season tells a different part of the story.

5. Layers of Time in Abstract Art

Sometimes, time isn't captured through realistic scenes but through layers of paint, color, and texture. Abstract artists like Jackson or Mark Rothko didn't focus on depicting a clear moment or scene but instead expressed the feeling of time passing through chaotic splashes, drips, or blocks of color.

These layers invite the viewer to experience time as something more fluid, something that can't be defined by a single moment.

Example: Think of a painting with thick, swirling paint that overlaps in places and leaves marks where the artist's hand has moved quickly. These overlapping textures tell a story of time moving in and out of focus.

In painting, time is more than just a clock ticking. It's about how we experience the world around us—the light, the motion, the cycles, and even the spaces in between. Whether through subtle changes in color, the repetition of forms, or the symbolism of decay, artists have found ways to express time in ways that words can't quite capture. Next time you look at a painting, take a moment to think about how it's telling you a story of time—and how that story makes you feel.