Candle Mold c. 1936

Holger Hansen made this drawing of a candle mold with graphite, and maybe some colored pencil, on paper. I love how the gray of the metal form is made up of so many subtle variations in tone. It's like Hansen is feeling his way around the object, gently teasing out its volume with delicate, almost tentative strokes. You can really sense the time and care that went into rendering this utilitarian object with such precision. Notice how the light seems to catch on the edges of the mold, giving it a subtle glow. It’s a bit like Morandi, the way he isolates these simple, everyday objects, turning them into something quite extraordinary. It reminds me that art isn't about grand gestures but about really seeing, and savoring, the world around us.