Amana Baker's Oven Lamp c. 1937

Frank Eiseman made this drawing of an Amana Baker’s Oven Lamp at an unknown date using what looks like graphite and watercolor wash on paper. Look at the way Eiseman painstakingly renders the lamp’s form and texture. I love the technicality of the drawing, all the diagrams and notations, like a page from an instruction manual or an inventor’s notebook! You can almost feel Eiseman’s presence as he leans over the paper, carefully observing and translating the object into lines and shades. And that little rooster on top? What a charming detail. I wonder what Eiseman was thinking as he drew this lamp. Was he fascinated by its design? Did he admire the craftsmanship of the original? Or was he simply documenting a piece of history? It reminds me of the Shaker designs; these kinds of objects are so simple, elegant and functional. I see this drawing as more than just a representation of an object. It’s a testament to the artist’s curiosity, skill, and appreciation for the beauty of everyday things. And it invites us to see the world around us with fresh eyes, to find wonder in the ordinary.