Sporting Watch c. 1936

Here we have Harry G. Aberdeen's "Sporting Watch". This seems to be an illustration done with watercolor or gouache. It’s got that flat, graphic feel that’s so different from the illusionism we expect. It’s like a diagram, a flat design. Look at the golden casing. It's outlined with a thin, unwavering line, and filled in with a wash that's pretty even, not much variation. It's like he's saying, "This is gold," but without any of the shimmer or depth we associate with it. The hands of the watch are stark, black lines, cutting across the face with geometric precision, pointing to times that are not real. Aberdeen’s piece reminds me of some of Ed Ruscha's deadpan depictions of objects, taking something ordinary and presenting it in a way that's both familiar and alienating. It makes me think about how we relate to objects, and how art can shift our perspective. The lack of depth and the precision create this sense of detachment, as if it's not just a watch, but an idea of a watch.