Carved Wooden Candleholder c. 1939

This is Vera Van Voris’s ‘Carved Wooden Candleholder’, a watercolor over graphite on paper. Born in 1855, Van Voris lived through an era of significant social change, including shifting roles for women and evolving religious landscapes. The candleholder, with its gothic arch and prominent cross, speaks to traditional religious spaces. Yet, the very act of a woman designing such an object subtly challenges the patriarchal structures often inherent in religious institutions. This piece invites us to reflect on the intersection of faith, gender, and artistic expression. Does this design reinforce established religious narratives, or does it propose new ways of engaging with spirituality? Consider the candlelight it would hold, casting shadows and illuminating the space around it. Perhaps Van Voris invites us to consider the spaces – both physical and spiritual – we create for ourselves.