Clock 1937

Lawrence Phillips created this drawing of a clock, but the date remains unknown. Phillips was active in a period of rapid industrialization, and this clock, encased in glass, speaks to a changing relationship with time itself. The clock sits protected, an object of curiosity and perhaps status, removed from the everyday experience of labor. Consider the visual codes: the ornate metalwork, the precise dial, all hinting at a world increasingly governed by schedules and productivity. The country in which it was made is unknown. To truly understand this image, we need to delve into the history of horology, the rise of industrial capitalism, and the changing social meanings of time. Through archival research and attention to the material culture of the period, we can uncover the significance of this seemingly simple drawing and the culture that produced it. This art serves as a potent reminder that artistic meaning is deeply rooted in social and institutional contexts.