Candlestick c. 1936

Janet Riza's candlestick was made with graphite and watercolor on paper. These are traditional art materials, and not much would seem to link it to wider social issues of labour, politics or consumption. But Riza has chosen to depict a functional object, one that has been manufactured or hand-made. It is important to consider how the candlestick's material influences its appearance, and how it was made. The candlestick is made of wood and metal and has a wooden handle. These processes imbue the artwork with social or cultural significance. The artist's skilled use of traditional art materials to represent this object prompts us to consider the labour, politics, and consumption tied to the production of this everyday object. By emphasizing materials, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork, we are challenged to question the conventional distinctions between fine art and craft.