Sperm Oil Lamp c. 1938

John Dana made this drawing of a Sperm Oil Lamp and it really gets me thinking about the basics of seeing. Look closely, and you’ll see the pressure of his pencil, coaxing out a full range of tones to suggest the lamp's reflective surface. This isn’t just about rendering an object; it's about understanding light and shadow, and how they play across a form. There’s a certain quietness to it, a stillness that feels almost meditative. The pencil marks are so delicate, so considered. I love the way Dana uses the paper's surface to suggest the subtle nuances of the lamp's glass. It reminds me of some of Morandi's still life paintings. Like Morandi, Dana finds a world of possibility in the everyday. It's about careful observation, and the sheer joy of mark-making. Art invites us to slow down, to really look, and to find beauty in the most unexpected places.