Clock 1935 - 1942

Edward L. Loper made this painting of a clock sometime in the 20th century, and it really makes me think about the act of observing an object and the act of painting that object, which is something I'm super interested in. I can imagine Loper studying the different parts of this clock, looking closely at the wood grain and the intricate carvings. He must have noticed the contrast between the smooth face and the rough texture of the wood. There's something so beautiful about how he captured the light reflecting off the glass. And how did he choose the color palette? What’s so charming about this is the sort of folk art scene painted below the clock face itself, I wonder if he painted from life, or if it was an image taken from his imagination. I am thinking about the work of Fairfield Porter and the ordinary objects that inspired him. Painters are always building on the ideas of artists who came before us. This work of art makes me think about the ongoing conversation between painters across time. Each of us offering our own way of seeing and experiencing the world.