Candlestick c. 1937

This drawing of a candlestick was made by Francis Law Durand sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century, using pencil and graphite. The candlestick emerges from the flat ground of the paper in delicate gradations of gray, casting a gentle shadow. Durand coaxes form from a limited palette, carefully modeling the curves and angles of the object, from its broad base to its faceted cup. I imagine Durand carefully studying the candlestick, observing how light plays across its surface, translating the three-dimensional object into a two-dimensional representation with light and dark marks. I wonder what he was thinking when he made this drawing. Was it a study of form, a meditation on light, or a simple attempt to capture the beauty of an everyday object? In his rendering, the humble candlestick is elevated through Durand's skill and vision, a reminder of how artists can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary through the act of drawing. Durand reminds us to appreciate the beauty of the everyday.