Metal Wall Clock c. 1938

Editor: So, this is Peter Connin's "Metal Wall Clock," created around 1938 using watercolor and drawing techniques. I find it intriguing how the ornate, almost Baroque style is rendered in such a delicate medium. It makes me wonder about its function beyond mere representation. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: The clock, especially as depicted here, gains relevance beyond being just a functional item; its design reflects societal values of the period. Think about 1938: economic depression, anxieties before the war. Do you think an artwork depicting an older style would connect or disconnect with an audience during such uncertainty? Editor: Hmm, perhaps it's offering a sense of stability, harkening back to what someone might perceive as a more stable and beautiful past. But how does that idea relate to its display in a public space like a museum? Curator: Exactly! Now, consider how museums, historically, curated such pieces. What kind of narrative does that create? Is it preserving a sense of artistic accomplishment or solidifying the historical legacy that would have had little to do with its time? Also, notice how it is rendered on paper. Does the use of watercolour impact your understanding of the cultural place of decorative arts? Editor: That's interesting...watercolor gives it an ephemerality, a sense of maybe unattainable beauty or perhaps longing? It makes me think of nostalgia. Thanks. Curator: Indeed. Museums have a way of freezing moments, so in the grand scheme of things this painting has historical depth and cultural impact because of when it was created and who might be consuming it. This watercolor offers an intersection between individual perception, material context and institutional agenda. Editor: I've definitely got a new perspective on clocks now! Thanks for expanding how I look at everyday objects represented in art.