Candlestick c. 1940

Janet Riza created this study of a candlestick with paint and paper. It feels like she’s right there in the room, carefully observing the simple form. I bet she mixed up a batch of luscious reddish-brown, that’s not quite brown, not quite red—it's alive! She layers it on, coaxing out the curves and edges of the object. Imagine her, squinting, brush in hand, trying to get the light just right. There's something deeply satisfying about this act of translation, taking a three-dimensional thing and rendering it anew on a flat surface. I just love the way she allows the color to bloom, those soft gradients giving the candlestick a gentle, almost breathing quality. I think about other painters who’ve taken on the challenge of still life, from Morandi to Balthus. It's like artists are always in conversation, riffing off each other's ideas, pushing the boundaries of what paint can do. This candlestick might seem humble, but it sings with quiet intensity, an ode to the simple beauty of seeing.