Sick Lamp c. 1937

Edward White made this small drawing of a lamp, in what looks like watercolor or maybe colored pencil, on paper. It’s interesting how White builds the form of the lamp with layers of shading, giving it a kind of geometric, almost architectural presence. The lamp itself is this simple, solid shape sitting smack in the middle of the paper. Look closely and you can see the subtle variations in the gray wash, how it gets darker around the edges, giving depth to the object, but also making it feel a little melancholic. There’s something about the careful, deliberate mark-making that makes you think about the passage of time. It kind of reminds me of some of Giorgio Morandi’s still life paintings, where everyday objects are transformed through careful observation and a muted palette. But White brings a more personal, intimate quality to his work. Ultimately, it’s the understated quality of the drawing which draws you in.