Lamp c. 1936

Burton Ewing made this drawing of a lamp, but it’s undated—so, we can only imagine him at work. He may have wanted to create a neutral, representational image, but there's a kind of tenderness that I'm picking up on in the image. I love the limited palette of blacks, greys, and golds. It feels so contained, careful, and considered, like a well-chosen outfit. I can imagine Ewing squinting at this lamp, getting up close, backing away, trying to really nail its essence. And the pressure of making it—did he labour over this, or did it come together in a rush of excitement? I'm also wondering, how did this piece relate to his wider practice? Was it a one-off, or part of an ongoing exploration? I think of Giorgio Morandi and his still lifes, and how each painting feels like a conversation with the last. These artists are all in dialogue. They are always inspiring each other to push the boundaries of their expression. And you can see them building on each other's work. So, when we look at art, we're really witnessing a conversation that's been going on for centuries.