Pottery Lamp c. 1938

Here's Boehmer's 'Pottery Lamp,' probably made with watercolor or gouache on paper. You can see how the artist has used light and shadow to create a three-dimensional effect, even though it's a pretty straightforward rendering. I'm wondering if Boehmer was interested in the history of art and design, because you know, pottery lamps have been around forever. I can imagine him thinking about form and function, how the lamp sits in the tray, and how it feels to hold the handle and pour oil in. The artist's hand is so present here. The brushstrokes capture the texture of the ceramic, and the subtle variations in tone give it depth. I feel like I can touch it, like I’m right there in Boehmer's studio with him. Artists are always in dialogue with each other, and with the past, riffing on themes and forms, trying to make something new and meaningful out of something old.