Candle Holder c. 1940

William Kieckhofel created this watercolor rendering of a candle holder. What grabs me is the choice to depict such a humble object with such care. The candle holder itself, likely made of tin or a similar metal, appears mass-produced. Notice the crimped edge and simple cylindrical form – the kind of utilitarian object churned out in factories. Yet, Kieckhofel elevates it through the delicate application of watercolor. The soft gradations of tone capture the subtle sheen of the metal, giving depth and presence to something ordinary. There is an inherent tension between the handmade and the manufactured. Kieckhofel seems to be asking us to reconsider the value we place on objects, and on the labor that goes into their creation. Is there beauty to be found even in the most functional items? It reminds us that every object, whether crafted by hand or machine, carries a story of production and consumption. And that close looking can reveal unexpected beauty in the everyday.