Candle Snuffer c. 1939

Lee Brown made this drawing of a candle snuffer with graphite on paper. What I like about this image is the feeling of really looking. It feels like he’s getting to know it as he draws. The snuffer is rendered with such precision and care, you can almost feel the weight of the metal and the cool smoothness of the handle loops. Look how the light catches the cylindrical part of the snuffer, creating this subtle gradation from light to dark. I love the way Brown captures the worn texture of the metal, with its tiny scratches and imperfections, so subtle. These details give the object a sense of history and use, as if it’s been a faithful companion through countless evenings. It reminds me of Vija Celmins, who has a similar sensitivity to the mundane world. In both Celmins and Brown you get a sense that the everyday, if observed closely, can take on a kind of cosmic significance.