Cast Iron Fencing c. 1937

Charlotte Angus drew this cast iron fencing, likely as a study, with graphite on paper. What strikes me is the combination of precision and delicacy in her mark-making, the way the architectural rigidity of the wrought iron is offset by the naturalistic motifs of grapes and leaves. Looking closer, you can see the subtle gradations of tone she coaxes from the graphite to create a sense of depth. The lyre motif in the centre is particularly interesting, with its curving forms juxtaposed against the straight lines of the ‘strings’. It's an almost surreal touch, like a musical instrument trying to escape the confines of the ironwork. The texture of the paper itself adds another layer, a slight roughness that softens the overall effect. Angus's drawing reminds me a little of Piranesi's architectural fantasies, though on a more intimate scale. And, like Piranesi, she seems to be suggesting that even the most functional objects can be a site of imaginative possibility.