Wall Clock c. 1938

Ernest Busenbark created this drawing of a Wall Clock using graphite, watercolor, and gouache. Busenbark, who lived a long life, had a career that spanned the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period of massive industrial and social change in the United States. This piece raises questions about time, labor, and the American identity. The clock, a symbol of industrial progress and the regulation of labor, is crowned with an eagle, a symbol of American freedom and power. But what kind of freedom is represented here? Is it the freedom of the entrepreneur, or the freedom of the worker? Does time serve or control? The ornate details and careful craftsmanship speak to a desire for beauty and order. It invites us to consider how we reconcile our personal sense of time with the demands of an increasingly fast-paced world. As you consider the clock, think about the stories we tell ourselves about progress and freedom.