Candle Mold c. 1936

Hugh Clarke made this drawing of a Candle Mold using graphite and watercolor. I imagine Hugh carefully observing, then delicately building up the image with layers of colour. You can almost see the ghost of his hand at work! He’s showing us this functional object—rendered in a very straightforward way. I’m thinking about the warmth of the wood versus the cool metal, the contrast of vertical and horizontal elements… What could this object mean, beyond its pure functionality? The even spacing of the cylinders—the potential for light—it’s almost musical. Artists are always in conversation with each other, borrowing ideas across time, inspiring each other. This drawing, so simple and direct, makes me think about the potential to find a spiritual dimension in everyday objects. And isn’t that what art is all about?