Shelf Clock or Mantel Clock c. 1938

Here is James M. Lawson’s drawing of a ‘Shelf Clock or Mantel Clock.’ The drawing presents us with a symmetrical composition dominated by the clock’s rounded form and the wood grain that seems to wrap around the clock’s body. The Roman numerals on the clock face create a structured contrast to the organic texture of the wood. Lawson’s work operates in a space where representation meets structural analysis. Semiotically, the clock serves as a signifier of time, order, and domesticity. The artist’s careful rendering of the wood grain could be interpreted as a comment on the interplay between natural form and human-made design, which challenges our conventional understanding of temporality and challenges fixed meanings. Through the manipulation of line and form, Lawson invites us to reflect on how we perceive objects and the subtle ways in which design elements contribute to our understanding of the world around us. The interplay between the clock's function as a time-keeping device and its aesthetic qualities encourages ongoing interpretation.