Lamp c. 1936

Joseph Wolins made this drawing of a Lamp using graphite and colored pencil. It's got this dreamy quality, almost like it's a memory or a thought. Wolins’ shading is meticulous; the way he uses graphite to sculpt the form and give it weight and volume. It’s really all about process here, the slow accumulation of marks. If you look closely at the top, near those two little wick holders, you’ll see these tiny, almost hesitant marks. They are like whispers of color – a delicate contrast to the more structured, controlled shading of the body of the lamp. It makes you think about the lamp, the play of light and shadow, and the way simple forms can have such presence. It reminds me of Morandi, with his still-life paintings. They both share a quiet, contemplative way of looking at the world. Ultimately, it's that kind of looking that art is all about, right?