Clock c. 1936

This detailed drawing of a clock might be a design proposal, an attempt at exact replication, or a means of understanding the inner workings of a clock. I imagine Dieterich hunched over his table, tools at hand, meticulously mapping out every curve and line. What’s so fascinating here are the added details. The flourishes aren't just functional; they're decorative, speaking to the clock’s potential as both a time-telling device and a piece of furniture. The precision of the measurements contrasts with the ornate detailing around the clock face. The corner embellishments especially, with their swirling organic forms, almost seem at odds with the rigid geometry of the clock's structure. It’s like Dieterich is wrestling with different ideas of order and chaos, function and decoration. This piece reminds me that art-making, at its core, is about trying to pin down something elusive, a feeling, an idea. It's a visual language spoken across generations of artists.