Candlestick c. 1935

Editor: We're looking at Janet Riza's "Candlestick," created around 1935. It’s a pencil drawing that feels so still and contemplative. Almost like a meditation. What stands out to you when you look at this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, "Candlestick." It's not just an object rendered in graphite, is it? Riza captures a quiet drama. A spotlight waiting to happen! Doesn’t it make you wonder what kind of light this candlestick held? I imagine evenings filled with untold stories illuminated by flickering candlelight. There’s something profoundly comforting in that simple image. Don't you feel that too? Editor: Absolutely! There’s something very homey about it, and your point about untold stories makes me think about its function. It makes me wonder why the artist choose something as mundane as a candleholder, when she could've chosen something else? Curator: Mundane? Never! (Laughs gently.) Think of the symbolism, child. Light overcoming darkness. Hope in a humble form. It's not just a drawing of a candlestick; it’s a quiet testament to resilience, perhaps reflective of the times it was created. Look at the detailing; see how she plays with light and shadow to give a simple shape real weight? Editor: That's such a beautiful way to look at it. I was so caught up in the simplicity, I completely missed all those symbolic layers! Curator: Precisely! Art is all about seeing beyond the surface, isn’t it? Each stroke whispers a secret, each shadow hints at a story waiting to be uncovered. You've taken the first step, now let the story unravel for you.