Candle Lantern 1935 - 1942

Clyde Cheney made this watercolour of a candle lantern sometime in the 20th century, and the process is almost as interesting as the object itself. Look at the way the light sort of pings off the surface of the metal, using a palette that's almost entirely grey. It's not about being flashy, but about finding the tonal range in a single, muted color. There's a real sense of care in Cheney's approach, like he's trying to really *see* this lantern, mark by mark. See how he uses tiny dots and dashes to create the texture of the metal, and the way the light filters through those tiny holes? It’s as if the painting is less about representation, and more about building up an image through careful, repetitive gestures. It reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin’s grids, but with a folksy, practical twist. Both Cheney and Martin make you think about how we look, and the unexpected beauty in the everyday.