Candlestand c. 1936

This drawing of a candlestand was made by Jack Staloff with what looks like graphite and coloured pencil. There's a wonderful sense of process here, the way it's broken up into different components, almost like a technical diagram, but also not quite. I love the contrast between the soft smudgy graphite and the precise delineation of form, like the gleam of light on the brass. It has a strangely detached, almost ghostly quality, like it's been pulled from a dream. Looking at the details, you can almost feel the weight and coolness of the metal, the way the light catches and reflects on its surface. It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin's drawings, but with a touch of industrial design thrown in. It's both beautiful and functional, a testament to the enduring appeal of simple, elegant design. But it also makes you think about how something as useful as a candlestick can be so beautiful too.