Seth Thomas Clock c. 1937

Arthur Mathews made this watercolour clock portrait. It is a steady, contemplative piece and reminds me how painting can be like keeping time. Mathews seems to be asking: what does it mean to be present? To make something still? I think he wanted to see the beauty in the mundane, where the grain of the wood is meticulously captured, giving a sense of depth and texture to the flat surface. The reflections on the glass are also beautiful, like moments caught in time. In that way, this clock sits outside of time, much like a painting, and can make you think about how we memorialize objects.