Candlestick c. 1939

This is Howard Lumbard's simple drawing of a candlestick. It's all rendered in graphite and ink. I can imagine him sitting there, probably in a darkened room with a single light source, studying how the light plays across the metallic surface. He has really thought about the textures of the piece, the way that the coiled metal contrasts with the rounded base, and the little tears in the holder for the candle itself. It's a solid object depicted in a very delicate way. You can see the way he's carefully built up the tones to create form and depth. It's like he's not just depicting the candlestick but also trying to capture a sense of its weight, its history. There is something humble about this work that resonates with me, maybe because it reminds me that making is a conversation with other makers across time.