Iron Candlestick c. 1938

Here we have Joseph Papa’s ‘Iron Candlestick,’ rendered in pencil, and the way it captures light and shadow is just fantastic. You know, it's about more than just depicting an object; it's about how an artist sees and interprets form. The texture Papa achieves is remarkable. Look at the way he suggests the rough surface of the iron, you can almost feel it. And the tonal range! It's subtle, but it gives the candlestick a real sense of depth and weight. The twist in the central stem feels so tactile, so real. It reminds me of some of the early modernists, like Picasso in his more classical moments. But Papa brings something unique, a kind of grounded, homespun quality. It's a simple object, beautifully observed, and it speaks to the power of art to find beauty in the everyday.