Three Legged Candlestick c. 1938

William Schmidt made this drawing of a three-legged candlestick, with what looks like graphite on paper. It’s hard to tell when it was made, but something about the line and the subject matter makes me think about craft and utility. The values are pretty subtle, but the pressure of the artist's hand really brings out the form, and creates something that is both an illustration and a sculptural object in its own right. I am interested in the way the shadows create depth and volume. Notice how the artist has rendered the twisted iron of the central support, the marks almost mimic the texture of the forged metal, which has a pleasing irregularity to it. Schmidt’s candlestick reminds me a bit of the drawings of Josef Albers; both artists find ways of making work that is both representational and abstract, playing with the subtleties of mark making to create a compelling image. I love that this is a drawing of a candlestick – it feels humble and full of potential, a reminder that art can be found in the everyday.