Watch with a Lady and a Priest c. 1750

This intriguing watch was crafted by Noël Balthazard. The circular face, dominated by a stark white background, is encased in a richly ornamented gold frame, its surface etched with ornate designs. The Roman numerals and delicate hands present a study in contrasts. Balthazard's formal arrangement speaks to a broader cultural dialogue about time and its representation. The watch itself, as a symbol, is a semiotic device, signifying not just the measurement of time, but also its control and commodification within burgeoning capitalist societies. The intricate detailing of the gold casing juxtaposed with the regimented precision of the dial, may reflect tensions between luxury and utility, or nature and artifice. Consider the circular form itself: a shape with no beginning and no end that can be seen as a visual metaphor for eternity. Through these formal qualities and the intricate dance of signs, the artist invites us to engage with a nuanced discourse on temporality, value, and the structures of modern life.