Grandfather's Clock (Timepiece) c. 1937

Francis Law Durand made this drawing of a grandfather's clock, sometime between 1855 and 1995 with what looks like colored pencil. There's something so tender about the way that Durand describes the wood grain, like little watery highways. Look at the bottom of the clock, the way he draws the wood swirling. It's like the clock is planted into the ground. You can really see the hand of the artist. The texture feels smooth and precise; he must have taken his time. The lines on the architectural diagram in the corner are so crisp and controlled, especially when compared to the warmer tones and organic shapes of the clock itself. There is something about Durand's attention to detail that reminds me of the precise renderings of furniture by the Shaker artists. It's like he's trying to capture the very essence of time itself, through this humble object.