Clock, Seth Thomas c. 1937

Dana Bartlett's watercolor of a Seth Thomas clock feels like a meditation on time and domesticity, rendered with a delicate touch. The color palette is muted, dominated by the warm browns of the wood and softened whites of the clock face, but there's an undercurrent of playfulness in the details. I'm drawn to the way the wood grain is suggested with thin, transparent washes, almost like watercolor stains, allowing the texture of the paper to peek through. And did you notice the red cherries painted at each hour? So sweet! The contrast with the darker panel below, depicting two figures, adds a layer of intrigue. It makes me think about how we measure time, not just in hours, but in moments and relationships. This piece has the quiet charm of someone like Joseph Cornell, but it's rendered with a more delicate hand. It invites a sort of reverie, a gentle nudge to consider how art marks time, too.