Portable Whale Oil Lamp c. 1938

James M. Lawson made this lovely Portable Whale Oil Lamp painting with watercolor on paper. I like the way he handles the light here; it’s so subtle, and that makes the lamp look like it has weight and presence. The surface of the paper is almost completely covered, but the washes of color are so light that it feels effortless. Look at the marks on the lamp, how he uses these little strokes to build up the form and give it a sense of age. It’s not just a lamp; it’s a lamp that’s been used, that has a history. This focus on the everyday reminds me of Giorgio Morandi, who dedicated his life to painting humble objects like bottles and boxes. Lawson, like Morandi, invites us to slow down and really look at the things around us and suggests that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.