Watch 1645 - 1655

Curator: Look at this intriguing object: a watch crafted sometime between 1645 and 1655. The maker? Jacques Goullons. What strikes you first? Editor: A little universe contained. There’s this gentle melancholy to it. Almost whispers of secrets. It’s not just telling time, is it? It's making you feel a feeling… don't you think? Curator: Indeed! Beyond mere utility, the piece merges mechanics with art. Notice the materials: it’s a symphony of mixed media - metalwork married with engraving and miniature painting. The lid opens to reveal an intimate scene; its material production points towards skilled artisanship for an elite consumer. Editor: The engraving detail especially! It’s so meticulous for something so small. You almost expect the painted figures to move, tell you a story. And it’s not just the lid - two angelic faces adorn the watch face... what do they mean in terms of craft? Is it a trend, like baroque watch faces, or... Curator: Absolutely. The engraving on the watch face blends with enamel work, the figures emblematic of ideals… beauty and perhaps harmony or even faith in balance. In terms of craft, it points to division of labor; several hands contributing their expertise, blurring lines between artist, engraver, and clockmaker. Editor: It becomes more than a watch, doesn’t it? More like a tiny sculpture you can carry with you. A personal reminder of bigger themes… like… are we really in control of our time…or what controls our time… Does the maker see the world differently? That level of focus and the level of control…! I get lost thinking about it! Curator: Precisely! It's an art object reflecting the anxieties of its age and those which echo still... Where time became both precious commodity and existential measure… Consider too the watch’s function—measuring the increasingly regulated and commodified hours of labor itself! Editor: Wow, so this delicate beauty has quite the double-edged backstory! Now when I see it I feel almost a time-traveler too... Thank you for this… new perspective... It helps to focus better.