Candlestick 1935 - 1942

Holger Hansen made this drawing of a candlestick, we don't know exactly when, with graphite on paper. What I notice first is the rendering of light across the surface of the metal, the way the artist has slowly built up tone with tiny, almost imperceptible marks. It's like the drawing itself is a kind of meditation on light, shadow, and form. Look at how the artist has rendered the cylindrical shape, the subtle gradations that suggest roundness and depth. I particularly like the small detail of the lever on the side. The drawing has a humble quality, like Morandi's still life paintings. The drawing reminds me that art isn't just about big statements, sometimes it's about paying attention to the quiet beauty of everyday things. It celebrates the act of seeing and the pleasure of close observation.