Candlestick c. 1937

Editor: Here we have William Vergani’s “Candlestick” from around 1937, a pencil and watercolor drawing. It has an almost photorealistic quality, but I am interested in the actual object that’s being depicted. What draws your eye? Curator: I find myself thinking about the candlestick not as a singular object, but as a product of specific material processes and social conditions. What was the candlestick made of? What labor was involved in its production, both the physical mining of the metals used and the craftsmanship to shape it? Editor: Good point. I see the geometric shapes now, repeated up the shaft of the candlestick – are you saying they’re connected to some production process? Curator: Precisely. The standardized forms suggest mass production, while the artistic rendering highlights individual skill. The candlestick serves both functional and decorative purposes, blurring lines of necessity and commodity fetishism. Does the image itself point to the wider networks of manufacturing and consumption that shape the everyday object? Editor: I see that. It's a study, but also unintentionally comments on broader societal trends linked to production and its aesthetic impact. Were items like these drawn by an artist for catalogs, or marketing? Curator: It's probable. Draftsmen were often involved in the commercial art world. But more interestingly, it gives the seemingly humble candlestick drawing greater agency; it is less about simple representation and more a meditation of materiality, artistic labor and its cultural meaning during the mid-20th century. Editor: I didn’t expect so much hidden behind a simple candlestick rendering. This made me realize the material object can offer an insightful glimpse into that time! Curator: And hopefully demonstrates how material considerations provide meaningful readings into artworks often overlooked.