Iron Grille at Window 1935 - 1942

Harry Mann Waddell created "Iron Grille at Window" using graphite and watercolor. Waddell was an architect, artist, and preservationist known for his dedication to documenting and preserving historic buildings. This drawing invites us to consider themes of protection and confinement. Iron grilles, historically used for security, often speak to deeper social anxieties around safety and exclusion. Consider the stories implied by this barrier. Who is being kept out, and who is being kept in? How does this separation affect the relationship between those inside and outside? The window itself becomes a frame within a frame, creating a layered perspective that prompts us to reflect on what we see, and what remains hidden. This piece invites us to consider the subtle ways in which architecture shapes our perceptions and experiences.