Grandfather Clock (Timepiece) c. 1937

This watercolor, “Grandfather Clock (Timepiece),” was made by Francis Law Durand between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Consider the face within the clock's dial – a seemingly minor detail, yet rich with symbolism. The use of a face is no mere functional element. Instead, it evokes the ancient personification of time, Chronos, the father of time, who devours his children, a potent symbol of time’s relentless, destructive force. We see echoes of Chronos, the old man within a clock dial, reminding us of time's passage. This representation touches something deep within us, a primordial fear of decay and mortality that art has long sought to confront and negotiate. Like the ouroboros, the snake eating its tail, Chronos and the cyclical nature of time, a timeless symbol that persists in our collective memory.