Eli Terry Clock 1940

Herman O. Stroh painted this Eli Terry Clock, and you can imagine him, brush in hand, carefully observing the clock, trying to capture its essence. The watercolour feels soft and precise, mirroring the clock's own purpose of measuring time with accuracy. It is like Stroh is not just painting an object, but preserving a moment in time, making it eternal on paper. I wonder what was going through Stroh’s head as he rendered each detail – the wood grain, the elegant numerals, the ornate decorations, and the rather fierce feet? Was he thinking about the clockmaker's dedication to his craft? Or perhaps pondering the passage of time itself? The pale and light colours create a quietness about the painting, inviting us to slow down and appreciate the simple beauty of this old clock. In his own way Stroh chimes in on the continuum of artists and artisans interpreting the world and each other, making his mark one brushstroke at a time.