Table Lamp c. 1942

Irving L. Biehn's "Table Lamp" painting feels like a quiet hum in watercolor. I imagine Biehn coaxing the lamp's form onto paper, maybe finding his way through layers of thin washes. See how the colours build up, creating a soft glow around the glass? I sympathize with Biehn, I wonder if he was trying to capture more than just the lamp itself. Maybe he wanted to evoke a sense of warmth, stillness, or reflection. You can imagine he could have been thinking about the simple, everyday beauty that often goes unnoticed. This feels like an artist having a conversation with himself, exploring the possibilities of the medium. It reminds me of Giorgio Morandi's still life paintings, how he used repetition and subtle variations in tone to create a sense of depth and contemplation. Painting is an ongoing dialogue across time, isn’t it? We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before, interpreting and reinterpreting the world around us.