Oil Lamp c. 1938

Walter Hochstrasser rendered this oil lamp sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, using graphite and watercolor on paper. Before the proliferation of electricity, light was a luxury, especially for those who toiled long hours in the fields or in factories. This lamp speaks to the daily lives of working people, their rhythms dictated by the rising and setting of the sun. Consider how the lack of light shaped social interactions, limiting activities to daylight hours, and how it felt to live without the ability to illuminate the darkness at will. Notice the lamp's simple, functional design, and the way its metallic finish catches the light in Hochstrasser's rendering. The lamp offered a form of independence, allowing people to extend their day and engage in activities beyond the reach of sunlight, however it also highlights the relationship between energy, labor, and social progress.