Tin Lantern c. 1937

Augustine Haugland made this drawing of a tin lantern, and, you know, the way the light and shadow play makes it feel like it could be anywhen. There’s this quietness to the palette, mostly greys and tans, that lends the piece a dreamlike quality. It's a humble object rendered with such care. Look at how Haugland uses the watercolor to mimic the texture of the metal, those tiny pinpricks of light suggesting the lantern's perforations. It's like he’s inviting us to touch the image, to feel the coolness of the tin under our fingertips. And then there's that lone candle inside, casting a soft glow. It's not just a light source; it's a symbol, right? Of hope, maybe, or resilience. It reminds me of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, with their unassuming objects elevated to something profound through the act of seeing.