Iron Balcony c. 1936

Arelia Arbo made this drawing, "Iron Balcony", sometime between 1855 and 1995 using pencil, or maybe ink. It's all about lines and how they describe shapes, with a real emphasis on the feeling of looking at something solid. The way Arbo builds up the shadows by layering tiny marks is captivating. Look closely at the lower left corner, you will see she works in concentrated clusters of tiny dashes. The method creates a sense of depth and volume without using color. The ironwork of the balcony becomes a dance of positive and negative space, each curve and flourish carefully considered. It's as if she is capturing not just the appearance of the balcony but also its weight and presence. It reminds me a bit of Piranesi's architectural etchings, but with a more personal, intimate touch. Arbo turns something as ordinary as a balcony into a study of light, shadow, and form. It’s a wonderful reminder that art is about how we see, and what we choose to focus on.