Wrought Iron Balcony Rail c. 1936

Al Curry made this drawing of a wrought iron balcony rail at an unknown date, using graphite and brown wash on paper. It presents us with a fragment of a building, cropped to focus on the decorative ironwork. Balconies like this are common in New Orleans, where the artist lived and worked. They evoke the city’s unique cultural history, a blend of French, Spanish, and Caribbean influences. The wrought iron, while decorative, also speaks to the city’s history of enslaved labor. The image subtly highlights the social divisions that shaped the city’s architectural landscape. To fully appreciate the drawing, we might consult local archives, architectural surveys, and social histories of New Orleans. By placing art within its social and institutional context, we can better understand the power of images.