Page of Proposal for Lighting Fixtures 1911

This is “Page of Proposal for Lighting Fixtures,” made by John S. Bradstreet and Company. Just imagine: with a simple pencil, the artist meticulously drafted the design, each line a testament to precision and craft. I can envision the artist leaning over the paper, maybe in a dimly lit workshop, thinking about how light will fill a room. The artist's hand is sketching out "one combination bracket" for some grand billiard room. The lightbulb is a symbol of modernity, which fills the room with its clean efficiency. There's a "closet in hall," too, which tells me that the artist is thinking about how people live in these spaces and how the artificial light will shape their movements and mood. This simple drawing sparks a vision, and you realize how much this seemingly simple sketch is tied to a larger world of art and design. It’s all about the love of craftsmanship and the endless ways we shape the world around us.