Wandklok c. 1865 - 1900

This photograph captures Laurens Lodewijk Kleijn's 'Wandklok,' a wall clock whose making would have been a complex, time-consuming endeavor. Kleijn worked during a period of significant social transformation, as industrialization began to challenge traditional craft. The clock, with its intricate details and embellishments, speaks to the values of a society that prized ornamentation and status. Its very existence embodies the intersection of class and taste, reflecting the identity of those who could afford such luxury items and the aspirations of those who desired them. There is a performative element to this clock – a presentation of self and status that timepieces so often capture. Ultimately, this photograph of Kleijn’s clock makes one reflect on the passage of time. While on one hand it objectifies the subject, it also invites considerations of change, and the emotional weight of our own histories.