Miner's Candle Holder c. 1938

Benjamin Resnick drew this miner's candle holder on paper, and what strikes me first is how he sees line and form. It's like he’s feeling his way around the object, capturing its essence through these delicate marks. The pencil work is so subtle, creating a sort of ghostly presence on the page. Notice how he renders the texture of the metal, it has weight and depth. The way the light catches on the curves and edges, gives it a real, tangible quality. My eye keeps coming back to that point at the end, and the hook at the top. There's something so simple yet so profound about the way he’s captured this object. Resnick's work reminds me a little of some of the early modernists, like Morandi. He was also interested in the quiet beauty of everyday objects. It's a reminder that art is all about how we see and what we choose to focus on.