Lard Lamp c. 1940

This is Wayne White's 'Lard Lamp', made at an unknown date, and with unknown medium. It's got this quietness to it, right? The muted colors—mostly grays and browns—give it a somber feel. It’s like the painting itself is reflecting on the passage of time. Look at how White handles the surface of the lamp. You can almost feel the texture of the metal, smooth in some spots, corroded in others. The way he layers the paint, it's not just about depicting the lamp, but about showing its history, its wear and tear. Notice that little area where the spout meets the base. There's this concentration of darks, like the accumulation of years of use. It's a reminder that art doesn't have to shout to be heard. Sometimes, it’s the quiet, contemplative pieces that resonate the most. Kind of reminds me of some of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, where ordinary objects become extraordinary through careful observation and subtle mark-making.