Lady's Watch Case and Frame c. 1936

Curator: The artwork before us is a watercolor and drawing piece created circa 1936 by Harry G. Aberdeen, titled "Lady's Watch Case and Frame". Editor: My initial impression is one of detailed precision; the way each element is meticulously rendered—almost diagrammatic in its clarity. Curator: Indeed. Aberdeen was likely working within the watchmaking industry, using art as a mode of prototyping. This was a time when fine craftsmanship in watch design held significant cultural cache. Timepieces like these signified both wealth and social standing. Editor: Absolutely. The bright, almost optimistic palette, alongside those elegant fleur-de-lis details, speak to a very specific design sensibility, reminiscent of Art Deco's late flourish before the shift towards more streamlined, functionalist designs in the late 30s and 40s. Note the contrast in representation between the ornamented case and the diagram of the watch's interior, a contrast between outward show and inner, calibrated, function. Curator: Consider, too, how access to such timekeeping mechanisms shaped people's lives, synchronizing factory work, social engagements, and even dictating personal routines in the burgeoning culture of speed. Aberdeen’s drawing isn't just a design; it's a window into how societal structures and daily practices were literally being 'timed'. Editor: I see that. What strikes me now is the inherent tension created between the fluidity of watercolor and the very precise geometry it depicts, a kind of resistance within the medium itself mirroring the intricacies it is rendering. Look at how those washes define both form and shadow with equal deftness, capturing both the three-dimensionality and design. Curator: Very insightful! Harry G. Aberdeen’s meticulous study of a lady's watch prompts us to contemplate not only its aesthetics but its place within a rapidly changing world. Editor: Precisely. A work that reveals time, technology, craft, and aspiration within its delicate strokes.