Cast Iron Gate c. 1936

Lucien Verbeke created this drawing of a cast iron gate, and fence, no date given, probably using graphite or ink. It's all about line, hatching, and the way the white of the paper pops, almost like light, within a very limited range. Thinking about the material, those lines make me think of iron filings, how they align and form patterns when caught in a magnetic field, the way that material responds to hidden forces. I love the ornamental detailing, the little hearts topping the gate, and the flowers in the center of each side. See how the artist uses denser marks to define the shadows around these floral features, almost like a sculptural relief? This piece reminds me of the obsessive line work of some outsider artists like Adolf Wölfli. Both invite us into worlds where every detail matters, where the act of making is as important as any final image. It suggests art is less about perfect representation, and more about exploring the endless possibilities of line and form.