Lamp c. 1940

Carl Buergerniss made this drawing of a lamp with what looks like watercolor or gouache on paper, though we don’t know exactly when. I love the way the simple palette of greys and browns suggests the play of light on the glass and metal. Up close, you can see how Buergerniss layers thin washes of paint to create the illusion of depth and texture. Notice the delicate rendering of the glass patterns, swirling around the body of the lamp like frozen waves. The transparency of the paint mimics the translucent quality of the glass itself. It is as though the artist wanted to capture not just the object, but also the way light moves through it. The crown-like metal piece is particularly beautiful, constructed from tiny strokes of brown and grey. The way Buergerniss pays such close attention to the details of this domestic object reminds me a little bit of Morandi, who spent his life painting humble bottles and jars. Both artists remind us that art is not just about grand subjects, but about seeing the world around us with fresh eyes.