Lamp c. 1936

Louis Annino made this drawing, Lamp, on paper, and just imagine him hunched over, peering intently as he makes his marks. The drawing captures the essence of light and shadow with incredibly controlled gradations of tone. I just love the details on the lamp - look closely! You can see Annino's dedication to the craft of drawing, each line carefully placed, building up the form with what must have been incredible patience. It's as if he's trying to capture not just the appearance of the lamp, but also its weight, texture, and the way light plays across its surface. And notice that cute little sketch of the lamp in the bottom corner, like a study of the main drawing, further emphasising the objectness of the lamp. Drawings like this are part of a long conversation artists have been having for centuries, each one building on the last.