Tin Candelabra c. 1936

E. Boyd made this *Tin Candelabra* painting with watercolor, sometime in the 20th century, and there’s something so charming about the soft washes and how they give form to this curious object. The way the colors blend, like on the top tier, makes it feel like the paint is still wet, still in process. The paint isn’t overworked, it’s laid down with purpose. It's got this folk-art quality, yet it's not naive. I mean, look at the candelabra arms sticking out. They are just these simple lines ending in those tiny candle holders, like little hats perched on sticks. There's a stillness, like time is suspended. It reminds me a little of Charles Burchfield, who also painted these simple, almost generic objects with a surreal feeling. It's a quiet piece, but it speaks volumes about seeing beauty in the everyday.