Lamp c. 1936

A. Zaidenberg rendered this drawing of a lamp sometime during their long life. I wonder if the artist worked from life? Did they set up a lamp in their studio, or did they work from memory? I love the way that the artist has captured the sheen of the metal, the way the light bounces off the surface. You can almost feel the coolness of the material. Zaidenberg creates form with subtle gradations of tone. It reminds me of Morandi’s bottles, the way he coaxes out their shape with careful observation. There's something about the way Zaidenberg has described the form of the lamp that feels intimate, as if the artist has a deep connection to the object. The lamp stands proudly, a testament to a life lived with care and attention. It makes me want to go back to my studio and make something beautiful. Don’t you feel that way too?