Grandfather's Clock c. 1936

Ernest A. Towers Jr.’s "Grandfather's Clock" is a drawing of a clock, likely made with graphite or ink on paper, where the linear quality emphasizes process and design. The careful lines give the clock a ghostly, almost surreal presence. It's not just an image, it's an idea of a clock, a memory perhaps. I am drawn to the textures he has created; the tight hatching on the lower section and the sweeping vertical grain of the mid-section are particularly compelling. Look at how the artist coaxes volume and depth from the restricted monochrome palette. It reminds me of certain architectural renderings, but here, the choice to depict such a domestic item gives it a strangely intimate feel. I think of Charles Burchfield and his intense, slightly unhinged watercolors. Both artists share a fascination with the hidden life of everyday objects. There's a quiet strangeness in this clock, an invitation to consider the stories held within the things we live with.