Iron Gate c. 1936

Natalie Simon made this watercolour called 'Iron Gate', and while we don't know exactly when it was painted, the delicate washes of black and grey are so subtle and skillful, it feels like it could have been made at any time. There's something about the way the transparency of the paint allows the light to pass through the image, and the way the artist has built up these layered tones, that really speaks to me about process. Looking at this painting, you can feel the artist considering the possibilities of each mark, of light and shade. Take a look at the upper section of the gate, see how the wrought iron scrollwork has been captured with such care and precision, against the softer, less defined rendering of the stone wall behind. The composition is fairly simple, yet the overall effect is one of quiet, formal complexity. It reminds me a little of Manierre Dawson's grey-scale paintings, exploring the boundaries between representation and abstraction.