Portable Whale Oil Lamp c. 1938

James Lawson, born in 1855, gave us this Portable Whale Oil Lamp, painted with what looks like watercolor. I imagine him carefully layering washes of grey and brown, trying to capture the cool metallic sheen of the lamp. You can almost feel the weight of it, its solid, functional design so beautifully rendered. What was Lawson thinking as he painted? Maybe he was considering the lamp's practicality, a humble object providing light in the darkness. Or perhaps he saw something more, the lamp becoming a symbol of resilience and resourcefulness. I love the way the brown watercolor bleeds softly into the grey, mimicking the lamp’s patina. There’s such attention to detail, from the curve of the handle to the small lid on top. Artists like Lawson and others are always in dialogue, responding to each other across time. They encourage each other to find new ways of seeing and feeling. This painting feels like an invitation to slow down, to appreciate the beauty and ingenuity in everyday things, and to find light even in the darkest of corners.