Cast Iron Gate and Fence c. 1936

Lucien Verbeke made this drawing of a cast iron gate and fence sometime in his long life. The drawing is carefully done, but there's also something casual about it, like a study or notation of an idea. Look at the way the metal is rendered, with thin washes of color and delicate hatching. The surface is smooth, but you can see the hand of the artist in the subtle variations of tone and texture. The twisted bars and leafy details have a playful, almost whimsical quality, like something out of a fairy tale. It’s like Verbeke is showing us both the form and the possibility of this object. I’m reminded of Piranesi's architectural fantasies, where real-world structures become springboards for flights of imagination. Verbeke offers a glimpse into a world where the functional becomes fantastic, and the everyday is transformed into something magical. It's a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places, and that even the most ordinary objects can be sources of wonder and delight.