Clock Case c. 1936

Curator: Here we have John Dieterich's "Clock Case," dating circa 1936, rendered meticulously in watercolor and colored pencil. What's your immediate impression? Editor: There’s a formality and quietude here. The precise rendering feels almost reverential. It reminds me how central the concept of 'keeping time' became in that era, a new preoccupation influencing social behavior, architecture and art! Curator: Indeed. Dieterich seems focused on capturing the clock's symbolism. Notice the intricate details he includes – the finials on top, the subtle wood grain, the ornate face – elevating this object beyond mere utility. He shows the 'status' that clocks held then. Editor: The choice of media speaks to that reverence, too. The soft watercolors imbue the piece with an almost dreamlike quality, yet the colored pencil work provides striking crispness. Curator: It's interesting you say that because a clock carries with it, time, transience and ultimately mortality and that impacts us on conscious and subconscious levels. Editor: But don’t you think its impact stretches beyond the purely existential? The industrial revolution massively influenced not only time keeping itself but the art and the popular imagination surrounding it. Before that point people would use less rigid measurements such as 'sunrise' or 'midday'. Now look how much society worships clocks and time itself. Curator: A worthwhile reflection on how technological advancements seep into the cultural consciousness and influence our aesthetic values. That is indeed what this artwork captures. Editor: Absolutely. It reminds us that what we consider "art" is intertwined with societal and technological changes, influencing, challenging, and often celebrating them. It's really amazing what this detailed rendition achieves.