Shaker Grease Lamp 1941

Charles Goodwin created this watercolor painting, "Shaker Grease Lamp," likely sometime in the mid-20th century. The composition is strikingly simple: a symmetrical rendering of a lamp, isolated against a plain background. The palette is restrained, featuring muted browns and subtle blues which imbue the object with a quiet, contemplative presence. Goodwin’s formalism is evident in the clear delineation of shapes and the attention to the object’s overall form. We see how the lamp is constructed from basic geometric shapes - the base, stem and cup form a structural harmony. There is a structuralist approach here which seeks to uncover the underlying organisation that governs the artwork. The lamp can be read as a sign within the Shaker community, representing values of utility, simplicity and functionality. This is a clear statement that form follows function. The choice of watercolor gives the piece a soft, almost ethereal quality. It emphasizes the texture and material properties of the lamp. The subtle gradations of color create a sense of depth and volume, inviting us to consider how the lamp exists in space.