Candlestick c. 1937

Beulah Bradleigh made this rendering of two candlesticks with what seems to be pencil and watercolor. It looks like she worked methodically, laying down the outlines, considering the negative space, and then filling them in with tonal washes to create volume and depth. I imagine Bradleigh carefully studying the objects, thinking about light and shadow, maybe thinking of the domestic space they might sit within. Are they heirlooms, or everyday objects? You can see she renders each candlestick with slight imperfections, giving them an imperfect symmetry, so they are not identical twins, but more like siblings. The composition is split in two, which gives each of the objects equal importance. It’s interesting how humble subject matter can be elevated through the artist's careful observation. It reminds me of the drawings of Morandi, where the repetition of a few simple forms can be a way of exploring the subtle nuances of light and space. There is always something to learn from these kinds of careful, sustained investigations.