Clock c. 1938

Curator: So here we have Lawrence Phillips' rendering of "Clock," circa 1938, meticulously rendered in colored pencil and watercolor. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It's stately, certainly. Very upright. I feel like it should be standing in a shadowy corner, marking the passing of years with a relentless tick-tock. But the watercolor makes it softer somehow, less imposing. Curator: I'm struck by the deliberate use of the clock motif. Consider how timepieces feature as potent symbols in different cultures. They represent not just the passage of time, but also mortality, legacy, and even destiny. That eagle perched atop adds a further layer of meaning. Editor: An eagle… Oh yes! It makes the clock even grander. A majestic avian on a wooden... Well, it reminds me of childhood visits to my grandparents' house, filled with antique furniture that seemed to silently judge every movement. Curator: You highlight an important point – the way objects, even mundane ones like clocks, accrue cultural baggage. The grandfather clock has become shorthand for stability, tradition, and even upper-class gentility. Phillips’ piece also strikes me as more than just a realistic representation of an object; it's an exploration of how an object becomes embedded with personal and shared memory. Editor: Absolutely, because there is something inherently nostalgic about the clock. Maybe Phillips was hinting at the inevitability of change or, as you said, legacy. Or perhaps, it's just a pretty clock. Sometimes, art is what it appears to be, no hidden meanings to chase! Curator: Possibly. And maybe there's an interesting tension in presenting this grand symbol in such an intimate, almost domestic medium like watercolor. It democratizes the object, making it less intimidating, less an emblem of a specific social class. Editor: I like that reading, because it invites everyone into the clock’s story, its narrative. I'm suddenly curious about the real clock that served as Phillips’ inspiration and its own story. Now, isn't that a fascinating detail to ponder? Curator: Indeed! And a testament to the image’s ability to still capture our imagination.