Whale Oil Lamp 1935 - 1942

David S. De Vault made this drawing of a Whale Oil Lamp using what looks like delicate watercolors. I can imagine him, carefully layering these pale washes of pink, blue, and yellow, letting each dry before the next. Look closely, you can see the subtle pencil lines underneath, marking out the basic structure. There's such patience in the process. I wonder what he was thinking about as he painted? Was he trying to capture the lamp's actual form, or something more? The light, maybe? The way it felt to hold it? The pastel colors give this functional object a dreamlike quality. I’m fascinated by how artists pick up ideas from the past, give them a shake, and send them into the future. De Vault is one artist among many others. He’s gone now, but this little drawing feels like a quiet, enduring conversation.