Candle Holder c. 1937

Editor: Here we have Howard Lumbard’s "Candle Holder" from around 1937, rendered in watercolor and drawing. The pairing of roughly hewn wood and forged metal has a grounded, almost elemental feel to me. What are your initial thoughts on it? Curator: It's intriguing how Lumbard represents this utilitarian object. The meticulous detail in the drawing elevates the candle holder from a mere functional item to an object of artistic consideration. Do you think it reflects on how Lumbard engages with the materiality and production? Editor: Definitely. The artist chose watercolor, a very accessible and portable medium, to depict a rather humble object crafted from wood and metal. What might that choice convey about the value he placed on everyday objects and perhaps on the labour involved in crafting them? Curator: Precisely! The almost documentary approach invites a focus on process. Lumbard might be drawing attention to the labour of the artisan, a subtle nod to the dignity of work, which in that era would relate to concerns about industrialization. Notice the difference between the smoothness of the cylinder that holds the candle and the twisting wrought iron pole, how do you think that would be accomplished in real life? Editor: I hadn’t really considered that… You're right; it seems Lumbard encourages us to think about not just *what* we’re seeing, but *how* it came to be, how it was manufactured, how it all comes together! Curator: Exactly, the work challenges boundaries between “high art” and “craft,” urging us to rethink aesthetic value tied into social considerations around labour and production. Editor: I can now see that beyond its literal representation, the work has much to tell us about society. Thanks, that really opened my eyes. Curator: Indeed, focusing on materiality lets us unpack complex stories hidden within the object, stories of process, labour and cultural significance.