Lamplight 1929

print

pencil drawn

toned paper

light pencil work

print

pencil sketch

old engraving style

personal sketchbook

pen-ink sketch

united-states

sketchbook drawing

pencil work

sketchbook art

"Lamplight" is a lithograph by Wanda Gág created in 1929 and currently housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The artwork depicts a simple scene of a chair, a table with an oil lamp, and a bowl, all illuminated by the soft glow of the lamp, creating a sense of warmth and intimacy. Gág's masterful use of chiaroscuro, with deep shadows and subtle highlights, creates a feeling of depth and texture. The composition is balanced and serene, drawing the viewer's eye towards the lamp and the interplay of light and shadow. This piece exemplifies Gág's talent for capturing everyday moments with evocative imagery and masterful technique.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Wanda Gág made her own bent lampshade to produce the dramatic shadows in Lamplight. She loved the honesty of everyday objects and the associations they evoked. For her, this humble setting stood for a simpler, preindustrial time, in contrast to the blackened doorway, which suggests an unknown future. This image was first exhibited in January 1930, just a few months into the Great Depression. It became one of Gág’s most famous prints.