Candlestick 1935 - 1942

Hester Duany made this drawing of a candlestick, sometime between 1905 and 1964, with graphite and watercolor on paper. Duany lived in a time when the roles of women in art and society were rapidly evolving. She navigated the traditional artistic subjects, such as still life, while women were fighting for suffrage and greater social recognition. This candlestick, so common in its time, suggests a domestic setting, often associated with women's roles. Yet, through Duany's artistic eye, it transcends mere representation to become an object of quiet contemplation. The soft rendering of light and shadow gives the candlestick an almost ethereal quality. It's as if Duany invites us to reflect on the small, often overlooked aspects of daily life, celebrating the beauty and significance of the mundane. In this piece, Duany offers a subtle commentary on her era, capturing both the intimacy of domestic life and the burgeoning spirit of women in the arts.