Betty Lamp c. 1939

This pencil drawing of a Betty Lamp was made by Philip Johnson sometime in the 20th century. I can imagine Johnson finding this lamp, perhaps in an attic or antique store, and being captivated by its form, its history. There’s a stillness here, a quiet reverence in how he renders the lamp’s surface, almost caressing it with his pencil. You can see every dent, every bit of wear and tear. It’s like he’s tracing time itself. It’s fascinating how a simple object, drawn with such care, can become a portal to the past. When I look at this, I feel I am looking at more than just a lamp. I’m thinking about the hands that held it, the rooms it lit, the stories it could tell. It reminds me that everything has a history, and every mark we make carries a trace of ourselves.