Shaker Clock Hanger c. 1936

Ray Holden made this "Shaker Clock Hanger" without a specified date, using what looks like watercolour or gouache on paper. The clock hanger appears isolated, quietly asserting its presence. Holden's color palette is restrained, mostly earth tones. The application is thin and transparent, allowing the paper's texture to peek through. Look closely, and you can see the gentle strokes that define the form. There's a tenderness in the rendering. The subtle gradations and variations in tone create depth and shadow. It’s a simple subject, but there's an underlying complexity in the way Holden observes and translates the object onto paper. It reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, in the way that mundane subjects, executed with restraint, become almost meditative. It's in this simplicity that we find its power. The "Shaker Clock Hanger" is an invitation to slow down.