Clock c. 1938

Curator: This is "Clock," a watercolor and colored-pencil drawing by John Dieterich, around 1938. The colors give it a somewhat antiquated feel, like something discovered in an attic. Editor: It really does. It’s a beautiful rendering of a clock. It seems almost like a design for a clock, with an eagle on top and nautical scenes below. What do you make of it? Curator: Consider the labor embedded in both its creation as a drawing and in the object it depicts. Watercolor and colored pencil, especially in this level of detail, require immense skill and time. Now think of the clock itself: an instrument for measuring and regulating labor, its "patent" inscription pointing towards industrial production and commodification. Does that shift your perspective? Editor: Yes, that connection makes it feel very different. So, the drawing becomes not just a pretty picture, but also a comment on the nature of work and industrial design. Are the nautical scenes another layer to that? Curator: Precisely. Ships facilitate trade, which further complicates these systems. This clock is no simple tool. Editor: It's fascinating how the materials and depiction open up these considerations. I wouldn't have thought about it that way on my own. Curator: Art isn’t separate from labor, materials, and consumption—it's intertwined. And understanding the means of its production reveals a powerful dialogue. Editor: I'll definitely keep that in mind when I look at art from now on! Curator: Good. Let's carry on and examine the next exhibit then.