Candle Holder

Art Historical Context

Behold the delicate *Candle Holder*, a graphite drawing on paperboard by Bernard Westott, created between 1935 and 1942. Measuring 29 x 22.7 cm, this precise rendering captures the form and elegance of an everyday American household object, highlighting its functional beauty through fine lines and subtle shading. This artwork is a gem from the Index of American Design, a WPA Federal Art Project during the Great Depression. Artists like Westmacott meticulously documented folk art, crafts, and decorative objects to celebrate and preserve America's cultural heritage amid economic hardship. Graphite on paperboard allowed for exacting detail, making these works invaluable records that bridge art and historical documentation. Today, housed in the National Gallery of Art, *Candle Holder* reminds us of the ingenuity in simple designs that lit American homes. It invites reflection on how ordinary items embody cultural identity, offering a window into mid-20th-century efforts to value vernacular artistry. (178 words)