Chandelier c. 1905

This lovely Chandelier at the Minneapolis Institute of Art shimmers with iridescent waves of gold, pink, and green. Imagine the anonymous maker, carefully layering molten glass, coaxing these luminous colors into being. It's as if they were thinking about light itself, capturing the way it dances and refracts. I love how the curving lines ripple outwards, giving a sense of movement and fluidity, like breath. It reminds me a little of Klimt, with all that luscious, shimmering gold. And the shape! Like a plump, blossoming flower, its sensuous curves feel so inviting. You can see the hand in it – not literally, but in the attention to detail, the subtle variations, the overall care for the process. There is so much that painting and glass making have in common, each generation builds upon the last. I think both artists push the boundaries of their materials, finding new ways to express themselves, to capture a feeling, to make the world a little more beautiful.