Grandfather Clock c. 1936

Ernest A. Towers Jr. created this work, “Grandfather Clock,” with watercolor and graphite on paper. The rendering of the clock immediately evokes notions of temporality and traditional craftsmanship. The formal elements of the artwork are striking. Towers skillfully uses vertical lines and rectangular forms to construct the clock's towering presence. The wood grain, depicted with delicate strokes, adds texture and depth, suggesting the object's history and the labor involved in its creation. The clock's face, with its intricate markings, invites a semiotic reading, where each number and hand movement functions as a signifier of time's relentless passage. The representation challenges fixed notions of time as an objective measure. The clock embodies cultural values and subjective experiences, inviting us to reflect on time’s impact on our lives.