Tall Clock c. 1938

Ferdinand Cartier made this drawing of a ‘Tall Clock’ with graphite and watercolor on paper. I’m imagining Cartier, hunched over his desk, meticulously rendering the wood grain and intricate details of this clock. What was he thinking as he traced the lines and curves? He was probably deeply immersed in the tactile qualities of the material, his hand moving with precision and care to capture the object in front of him. I wonder if he ever felt the urge to break free from the constraints of representation and explore the expressive potential of his materials. It’s interesting to see him capture this grandfather clock in the traditional style, because in his wider work, he moved towards abstraction. Like many artists, he continued an ongoing conversation with art history, tradition, and with his own evolving vision. It makes you wonder, how do different forms of painting or drawing offer distinct ways of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world?