Candlestick 1936

Holger Hansen’s candlestick presents us with a potent symbol, a seemingly simple object imbued with layers of meaning. Light, especially in the form of a candle, has always represented knowledge, hope, and the divine. Consider how the motif of the candle recurs throughout art history, from the flickering flames in Caravaggio's tenebristic scenes, illuminating hidden truths, to its presence in vanitas paintings as a reminder of life’s transience. In ancient rituals, the candle was a guide for the soul, a beacon in the darkness of the underworld. Its verticality, reaching upwards, can be seen as an expression of spiritual aspiration, a connection to the heavens. In this depiction, the candle is nearly spent, bent over. The image can be seen as an allegory for the waning of time, an exploration of the ephemeral nature of existence, that engages the viewer with a deep subconscious awareness of mortality. The cyclical dance of light and darkness, hope and despair, persists through time, resurfacing in art, and stirring something deep within us.