Cast Iron Gate and Fence c. 1936

Ray Price made this drawing of a Cast Iron Gate and Fence using graphite and watercolor. It feels like a design or proposal, carefully rendered and presented on paper. I wonder what the process was like for Ray? Did he start with a sketch, maybe directly on site, and then refine the drawing later in the studio? I can see him thinking about the interplay of weight and lightness, strength and delicacy, as he developed the composition. The watercolor washes create a sense of depth and volume, giving the gate a ghostly, ethereal presence. It feels real, but also like a dream. I am drawn to the central image of the weeping willow and lambs. How does it connect to the wider practice and body of work of other artists? It reminds me of landscape paintings from the Romantic era, and perhaps a nostalgic longing for nature. What do you think?