Betty Lamp c. 1941

Oscar Bluhme made this ‘Betty Lamp’ with watercolor and graphite on paper. Look at the layering and subtle blending of those russet and tan hues - it feels like he built up the forms slowly, allowing them to emerge and coalesce bit by bit. I wonder what Bluhme was thinking about as he painted this everyday object? What was his intention? Was he interested in its shape, texture, or symbolism? How did he feel about this object as a relic of the past? I’m fascinated by his choice to depict the lamp from this unusual angle. It makes the lamp look almost like a piece of sculpture. That thin graphite line shooting up and through the composition is so striking. I can’t help but think about how Bluhme’s artistic interpretation prompts us to consider the interplay between form and function, representation and reality, and how, by depicting this one object, it speaks to a specific moment in time. Ultimately, Bluhme invites us to reflect on the enduring presence of everyday objects and ponder the stories they hold.