Lantern c. 1938

Roy Weber, who lived a good long life between 1855 and 1995, made this lantern drawing with graphite and colored pencil. What strikes me is the way the light is built up through layers of hatching, or maybe it's stippling. It feels like Weber is figuring out light as he goes, almost like he's feeling his way through a dark room. It’s all about transparency. The graphite looks like a memory, like an echo, and the touches of color suggest this thing has weight, has presence. Look at the way the light pools around the top, creating a sense of depth. There’s a beautiful balance between representation and abstraction here. The simplicity reminds me of some of Agnes Martin’s quieter works. Both Weber and Martin share a sensitivity to the subtle nuances of light and form. And like all good art, this piece resists easy answers, inviting us to linger in its quiet glow.