Lamp c. 1936

This drawing of a lamp was made by Burton Ewing, but we don't know when. It's rendered in delicate pencil strokes with subtle tonal variations to give it form. It feels like a really close looking job, like the artist was really trying to capture the essence of this utilitarian object. The soft graphite has a slightly reflective quality, so the lamp seems to glow. I find myself wondering about the surface of the paper. It's smooth but has a bit of tooth, catching the light. The gentle gradation of the pencil work creates a sense of volume, yet also suggests a cool, quiet light, like a foggy morning. Look at the way Ewing details the base of the lamp, the way it flares out and meets the ground. It gives the object a sense of stability. Ewing’s dedication to the quiet observation reminds me of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, the way he found such beauty in the mundane. It's a good reminder that art is there, in the everyday, if you just take the time to look.