Lamp Chimney 1935 - 1942

Editor: So, here we have John Tarantino's *Lamp Chimney*, probably painted sometime between 1935 and 1942, and rendered in watercolor. It's surprisingly delicate, almost dreamlike. What do you make of its simplicity? Curator: Dreamlike is the perfect word. To me, it whispers of quiet evenings, doesn't it? It’s just a humble object, yet the translucence achieved with watercolor makes it feel almost ethereal. Tarantino wasn't chasing grand narratives here; he was observing the quiet poetry of the everyday. The single, simple form, almost floating... What story does *that* tell, do you think? Editor: Maybe a story about finding beauty in the mundane? Like pausing to really *see* something we usually overlook? The way the light filters through the glass is so carefully rendered. Curator: Precisely. It reminds me of Morandi's still lifes – finding infinite variations within limited subjects. But while Morandi abstracts, Tarantino anchors us in a palpable reality. Notice the soft shadow, how it suggests both weight and the passage of light. Did you catch the way Tarantino outlined every surface, creating an almost cartoon-like dimension? It seems he couldn't fully abandon objective, visual definition, while equally valuing his experience. A lovely marriage! Editor: I didn't notice that, that cartoon-like outlining - fascinating. I can see now how it walks this line between representation and something more stylized. It's like he’s giving us permission to see the beauty of imperfection. Curator: I think you've nailed it. And isn't that a valuable lesson for us all, in art and in life? Editor: Definitely something I'll be pondering! Thanks!