Candleholder (Ecclesiastical) 1939

This is Edward Jewett’s watercolor of a candleholder. It looks like a quick study, all about capturing the form with those lovely fluid lines, and a limited palette of greens, reds, and creams that give it a folksy feel. I love the way the surface of the candleholder is built up with thin washes, almost like watercolor stains on wood, echoing the grain of the material. See how he uses thin, transparent layers to create depth and shadow. This makes me think about process, about how each layer of paint builds on the last, revealing the history of the artwork’s creation, like a memory. I am really drawn to the flower motif on the side. It has a handmade quality, the petals not perfectly symmetrical, which gives it a lot of charm. It makes me think of other artists like Forrest Bess, who also used simple shapes and symbols to explore deeper, more personal ideas. Art, like life, is an ongoing conversation, and Jewett's candleholder adds a quiet, thoughtful note to the discussion.