Whale Oil Lamp c. 1938

Isidore Steinberg made this drawing of a whale oil lamp, and it's just so delicately rendered. Look at the pale washes of color, how they build up to give the glass form weight and substance. What I find so striking is how the artist captured the translucence of the glass and the way light moves through it. Notice the subtle variations in tone, especially in the base – where the color pools to create a sense of depth and volume. There's something so satisfying about the repetition of the rounded forms, the way they echo each other up the stem of the lamp. It reminds me of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, in the way Steinberg finds beauty in the everyday and elevates it through careful observation and a restrained palette. Both artists share a similar sense of quiet contemplation, inviting us to slow down and appreciate the simple elegance of form and light. It's a reminder that art isn't about grand gestures, but about seeing the world with fresh eyes.