Page of Proposal for Lighting Fixtures 1911

This "Page of Proposal for Lighting Fixtures" was made by John S. Bradstreet and Company, probably around the turn of the century. It's not exactly a painting, but it is definitely a work on paper! It is hard not to think about the hand that made it. I think the drawing is wonderful. I can imagine the quiet concentration of the artist, carefully rendering the details of each lighting fixture. The drawing, annotations and careful records of materials and costs offer a window into a bygone era. Look at that handwriting—doesn't it tell you so much about the person behind it? I wonder if the artist knew their designs would one day be hanging on the wall of a museum! You know, art is always this kind of conversation across time. We learn from each other, riff off each other's ideas. It's a beautiful, messy, ongoing process, and it makes me feel connected to something bigger than myself.