Lamp c. 1936

Herman Bader rendered this Lamp in pencil on paper at an unknown date. Imagine Bader there, squinting, trying to capture the light and form just so. I wonder, was he thinking about the utility of the object, or its sculptural presence? There's such careful attention to the gradations of tone, creating a sense of volume and weight. The texture of the metal is palpable, almost begging to be touched. You can see the soft sheen, the way the light glints off the curves. The draftsmanship is precise, yet it has a certain sensitivity. I bet he was thinking of the Old Masters while making this, wanting to connect his work with the generations that came before, while at the same time, trying to make something completely his own. Like all of us.