Spark Lamp c. 1936

John Tarantino made this "Spark Lamp" with what looks like watercolor or gouache on paper. It's a very particular rendering, not exactly photorealist, but precise and careful, you can see that in the consistent tone and smooth surface. Looking closely, I can see the almost translucent quality of the lamp's body which is very beautiful. The way the light seems to glow from within, is likely achieved through layering thin washes of paint, allowing the paper's luminosity to shine through. The color palette is monochromatic, limited to shades of blue. Tarantino uses the blue in different densities to create form and volume. That base too, is also interesting. It's solid and sculpted, like a kind of architectural form itself. I am reminded of Giorgio Morandi, in his quiet and repetitive studies of bottles and jars. Both artists share a similar sensitivity to light and form, and how it transforms the most mundane objects into things of beauty.