Miner's Lamp c. 1940

Oscar Bluhme made this watercolor drawing of a Miner’s Lamp, a small metal vessel with a spout and handle. Bluhme's choice of watercolor allows for soft, diffused light effects around the lamp's opening, suggesting the glow it would cast in the dark tunnels. The metal body of the lamp, possibly made of steel or tin, would have been fabricated through pressing, folding, and soldering. This lamp, with its modest size and sturdy handle, speaks to the difficult and dangerous conditions faced by miners. The lamp is a poignant reminder of the human labor extracted alongside precious minerals and the technologies used in the process. Bluhme's drawing brings this object into the realm of fine art, asking us to consider the value of craft and the lives of working people.