Shelf Clock c. 1939

This "Shelf Clock" was made by Edward Bashaw, who lived from 1855 to 1995. This is a lovely study in watercolour of a shelf clock; it's all about the process of careful observation, I mean, just look at the level of detail and precision in those lines! The wood grain of the clock case is meticulously rendered, and then you get to that lower panel with the miniature landscape—it’s like a tiny world contained within the larger form. It’s all so neat, so contained, yet the charm of the piece lies in its handmade quality. I love that Bashaw didn’t try to hide the fact that it’s a painting; you can see the texture of the paper, the slight imperfections in the brushstrokes. That tiny landscape - it reminds me a bit of those Hudson River School paintings, or maybe even some folk art traditions. It’s like he's created a little window onto another world, a peaceful, idealized version of home.