Whale Oil Lamp c. 1936

Charles Garjian made this drawing of a whale oil lamp. He was born in 1855, a time when the whaling industry was at its peak in America. Whale oil lamps were more than mere objects; they symbolized a complex interplay of commerce, culture, and environmental impact. These lamps, fueled by the oil of whales, illuminated homes and streets, casting a light that facilitated work and leisure. But that light came at a cost. The demand for whale oil led to aggressive hunting practices, decimating whale populations. Consider the labor and lives entangled with this simple object: the whalers, often from marginalized communities, who risked their lives at sea; the indigenous populations whose traditional ways of life were disrupted. Looking at the drawing, one may reflect on shifting social values, technological advancements, and humanity's ever-evolving relationship with the natural world.