Betty Lamp c. 1937

Gilbert Boese made this drawing of a Betty Lamp, location and date unknown, with what looks like graphite and watercolor. It feels like he was really trying to figure out how this thing was put together. There's something about the drawing's precision, and the details of the lamp, that almost feels scientific, but then you notice the way the washes of color create depth and volume. I love the way the metal is rendered, so gray and worn. The watercolor isn't trying to trick you into thinking it’s metal. It’s more like Boese is using the paint to think through the object. He’s using these subdued colors to conjure both light and shadow. And the little technical drawings at the top? They add another layer of looking, another way of understanding. It reminds me of Charles Sheeler's paintings, how he brought this kind of clear-eyed observation to everyday objects. It's a reminder that art isn’t just about grand statements, it’s about paying attention.