Iron Railing and Gate c. 1936

James M. Lawson made this drawing of an iron railing and gate sometime between 1855 and 1995. The drawing depicts in great detail what appears to be a gate for a cemetery or other civic institution. The intricate ironwork suggests a certain amount of civic pride. The crosses and other ornate floral embellishments may be indicative of the religious beliefs or aesthetic preferences of the leaders who commissioned the ironwork. The pillars evoke those of ancient Greece and Rome, and communicate a sense of timelessness and authority. Further research into the history of iron foundries and the culture of civic institutions of the region in which Lawson worked would give us a better understanding of the social context in which this drawing was made. We would be better able to understand the relationship between the artist and the society in which he lived.