Lamp c. 1938

Fritz Boehmer made this painting called ‘Lamp’ with watercolor and graphite, and what hits me first is the way it’s been lit. I can imagine Fritz carefully applying the washes, building up the tones to capture the lamp's subdued glow. I’m really getting into the details here - see how the light catches the rim of the base, the handle's curve, and the chipped edge of the bowl? There is a sense of the artist searching for the right tonal values to capture the subtleties of light and shadow. It reminds me of Morandi and his still-life paintings of bottles, all those quiet, contemplative studies. Like Morandi, Boehmer seems to be looking closely, observing the everyday, and inviting us to slow down and really see. It makes you wonder about the conversations artists have across time, echoing each other's observations and inspirations.