Steeple Clock c. 1937

Arthur Mathews made this drawing of a Steeple Clock, and you can almost feel his hand carefully rendering each detail. I imagine him considering how the flat surface could mimic the texture of the wood, the coolness of the clock face, the overall feeling of time passing. I wonder if he was thinking of the Arts and Crafts movement, where truth to materials was key. See how the decorative floral inlay becomes a kind of painting within the painting. There is a real tenderness in his line work as he carefully shows us how the object has been constructed. The wooden frame is rendered with such love and attention. Mathews's work reminds us that painting is a way of looking, an act of care and consideration. It is a way of honoring the beauty in everyday objects.