Candle Maker 1935 - 1942

William Hoffman made this watercolor, Candle Maker, and it’s all about the subtle dance of color and shape; a real testament to seeing. I love how Hoffman uses the earthy tones, like he's digging into the very ground for his palette. There's a kind of quiet intensity in how he renders the paddle-like form, almost like a sun radiating lines of light. And notice that wooden handle, each stroke feels deliberate, as if Hoffman is not just painting an object but really feeling its weight and texture. It makes you wonder, what's the story behind this candle maker? Each mark feels like a brushstroke of memory, a quiet meditation on craft and labor and maybe he’s even a little bit like Morandi, turning everyday objects into something almost monumental. Hoffman reminds us that art isn't just about what we see, but how we see it.