Hand Lantern c. 1938

Filippo Porreca made this drawing of a hand lantern sometime around the turn of the 20th Century. It's rendered in soft graphite, a delicate touch that makes the metal feel almost like it’s exhaling onto the paper. The way Porreca shades the lantern, it's not just about showing us what it looks like, but also what it *feels* like to look at it. Notice how the light seems to catch on the edges, creating a subtle glow around the object. The heart motif inside the lantern is just darling. What I love about this piece is its simplicity. It reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi's still life paintings, with that same quiet attention to everyday objects. Porreca's lantern invites us to slow down, to appreciate the beauty in the mundane, and to see the world with fresh eyes. Art is like that, always offering new perspectives, if you’re willing to look.