Mantle Clock c. 1938

John B. Moll made this drawing of a Mantle Clock with what looks like graphite and watercolor on paper, but it’s the way he combines them that catches my eye. It's kind of charming how Moll uses his materials to create a sense of depth and texture. The clock's face, with its delicate numerals, is rendered with such precision. And then you have the horse-drawn carriage at the bottom, more like a dreamy watercolor. It feels like he's playing with different modes of representation, kind of like collaging different realities together. I love the way he outlines the form in pencil before adding washes of color. It makes me think of Charles Burchfield who also found ways to make the everyday otherworldly. Ultimately, it's that tension between the functional and the fantastical that makes this piece so engaging. It’s like time itself is being reimagined.