Lottery Wheel c. 1936

Martin Lamont made this painting of a lottery wheel in the twentieth century, using what looks like pencil and gouache on paper. It’s so cool, it’s like a machine, but also a symbol for fate. I love the way the gray paint is layered to give a sense of depth and weight to the wheel and its stand. You can see how the color shifts from light to dark, creating this almost sculptural form on a flat surface. Look closely at the base of the stand; the paint is denser there, giving it a grounded, solid feel. But then, the wheel itself seems lighter, more ethereal, almost like it could spin right off the page. It reminds me of some of Giorgio Morandi's still life paintings, where he takes everyday objects and turns them into these meditative, almost spiritual forms. But Lamont's lottery wheel has this added layer of chance and unpredictability, it's not just a quiet object, it’s a suggestion of a game, of risk, of the unknown. Art doesn't have to give you all the answers, sometimes the questions are the most interesting part.