Lamp and Tallow Strainer c. 1936

Marie Famularo made this drawing of a Lamp and Tallow Strainer with graphite and colored pencil, probably in the late 1930s. It's got this cool, subdued palette—mostly browns and grays. I'm imagining Marie carefully observing, trying to capture every little detail of these objects. It’s almost scientific in a way, like she's documenting them for posterity. She’s showing us not just the lamp itself but also these detailed diagrams of its various parts. Look at the precision in those lines, the subtle shading that gives the objects weight and form. You can almost feel the coolness of the metal, the sturdiness of the lamp's base. It reminds me a bit of those old technical drawings, but with a gentler, more personal touch. It is a reminder that every artist builds on the work of those who came before, riffing on old ideas and methods, to create something new.