Clock c. 1938

This clock, by Rex F. Bush, was made with some kind of paint on paper, although the exact date is unknown. What I love is the combination of a technical drawing with this kind of folky, slightly wonky rendering of a clock. The artist gives us this beautiful sense of texture with the marbling of the wood effect. Look closely and you’ll see that he uses varying pressure to create the darker, richer colours, or lighter, scratchier textures on the surface of the paper. It's like the piece has been built up, layer by layer, giving the effect of time passing. I love how this process mirrors the function of the clock itself, to measure time. It reminds me of the work of Josef Albers and his dedication to colour and form, exploring the way the two interact with each other. It feels like the artist is having a conversation with them across time. Ultimately, this clock isn't about telling time; it's about seeing time.