-Dee Handle- candlestick c. 1930

This brass candlestick, by Albert Reimann, lives at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and it’s all about the idea of making. Look at the way the light bounces off the curves and flat planes of this piece, and how the form emerges from a clear sense of geometry. What’s lovely is the way Reimann embraced both the practical and the playful. You can see how the shapes are so clean, reduced to the basic minimum, but then that handle! It's like the artist had a little fun and softened all the angles by making a 'D' to hold it with. It reminds me of something Brancusi might have dreamt up if he decided to design objects for everyday use, blending utility with sculpture. It’s this combination that keeps us looking. The form feels so solid, so thought out, yet there's an economy to it, a simplicity that makes it feel modern even today. Art doesn't always have to be a painting; sometimes, it's about making something beautiful that also holds a candle.