Betty Lamp 1935 - 1942

Cornelius Frazier made this drawing of a Betty Lamp, we don't know exactly when, with graphite on paper. Look at how much subtle tonal variation there is, from the palest greys, barely there, to almost black, dense strokes of graphite. There's something humble and painstaking in the process here. The artist builds up the form of the lamp slowly, stroke by stroke, creating a gentle gradient of light and shadow. The texture of the graphite gives a slight sheen to the surface, mimicking the metal of the lamp itself. See the small, almost hidden construction lines? For me, they add to the charm of the piece, like a secret glimpse into the artist's working method. This reminds me a little of the drawings of Vija Celmins - that same quiet intensity and focus on everyday objects. But where Celmins is all about precise replication, Frazier brings a more human, slightly wonky touch. Art's like a big conversation, right? Different voices, different perspectives, but always building on what came before. It’s never really about getting it 'right', but more about what we discover along the way.