Iron Fireback 1935 - 1942

Henry Meyers drew this Iron Fireback sometime between 1955 and 1995, using graphite on paper. Imagine the artist sitting, pencil in hand, meticulously tracing the ornate details of the fireback. The graphite, so soft and yielding, captures the rigid iron, transforming it into something delicate and intricate. The symmetry is soothing, isn’t it? The little embellishments create a rhythm, and the weight of the cast iron must have made quite an impression on Meyers. I’m drawn to the date, 1764, etched so subtly at the top. It feels like a whisper from the past, a gentle reminder of all the stories held within the hearth. The way the light catches and the shadows play, it’s not just an object, it's history, carefully rendered. Meyers must have appreciated the quiet strength of the fireback, a silent guardian against the cold. It makes me think about what we choose to preserve, and the stories these objects tell, if we take the time to really look.