Clock (Grandfather) c. 1937

Lawrence Phillips made this rendering of a Grandfather Clock with graphite and watercolor. This object prompts us to reflect on the social dimensions of time. Before industrialization, timekeeping was a communal activity, with town clocks regulating daily life. The advent of personal timepieces, like this grandfather clock, marked a shift towards individualized time. This clock, with its traditional design, speaks to the cultural significance of domesticity and social status. The clock represents more than just telling time; it represents social order, family history, and economic stability. Phillips, drawing this clock, engages in a dialogue with these ideas, questioning the institutions of art and the role of the artist in documenting such objects. Understanding this drawing requires looking into archives and social histories to fully appreciate the clock's symbolism and its place in American domestic life.