Grease Lamp c. 1941

Margaret Golden made this drawing of a Grease Lamp, we're not sure when, but she was an artist who lived a long life. The palette here is really reduced, just browns and grays, like a memory fading into sepia tones. It makes me think of my own painting process, how I layer and rework until the image feels both found and made. Look at how Golden uses these soft, almost powdery strokes to build up the form. The texture feels almost like rust itself, mirroring the object. It's not about perfect representation, more about capturing the feeling of age and decay. The way she renders the chipped edges and corroded surfaces speaks to the history embedded in the object. It’s a quiet meditation on time and its effects, isn't it? This piece reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi. He made these still life paintings of bottles that are almost like portraits. Both artists share this interest in the intimate and overlooked aspects of everyday life. There's something so honest about the work of artists like this. The meaning is ambiguous, yet so evocative.