Cast Iron Gate Front c. 1941

Beamon Meacham made this drawing of a ‘Cast Iron Gate Front’ with graphite on paper. The way the graphite is layered gives the piece a moody, almost gothic feel. There is a real sense of light and shadow, even though it is mostly dark tones. This makes me think about the process of drawing, building up the image slowly. The attention to detail and repetition is amazing. I love the way the patterned sections and the lattice-work contrast. Each mark is very precise, but when you look closely you can see the pressure of the pencil varying, giving the image a real sense of depth and texture. Meacham's careful work reminds me a little of the drawings of Agnes Martin, whose interest in lines and grids are always so meditative. It’s almost a diagram, yet it also has such strong visual impact. I see art as an ongoing conversation, where the same ideas are revisited and explored in different ways. There is no right or wrong way to interpret a piece of art.