Steeple Clock c. 1937

Arthur Mathews made this watercolour and graphite drawing of a Steeple Clock at an undetermined date. The clock is rendered with an intense precision. It’s as if the artist is trying to really understand how the object is put together, how it exists in space. The grain of the wood is delicately described, capturing its texture and depth. Then, at the bottom, a decorative panel with vivid reds and blues, completely different. The clock face itself has a cool detachment compared to the warmth of the wood. It's a strange combination of meticulous observation and then these bursts of decorative color. Look how the artist has captured the play of light on the clock’s surface, creating a sense of volume and presence. It's like this clock exists both in the world of real, functional objects and in the world of pure fantasy and decoration. Like with Redon, it's not about one or the other. It’s both.