Iron Grille at Window 1941

William Kieckhofel’s ‘Iron Grille at Window’ is a drawing, we don’t know when it was made, but it's rendered in what looks like graphite or ink, maybe even watercolor. The beauty of this drawing lies in its simplicity, in the repetition of line and the modulation of tones, which are just enough to bring out the form of the ironwork, and its subtle curves. The artist is working with the kind of limited palette that forces you to look closer. Look at the almost obsessive detail in each of those curly flourishes. Each one, slightly different from the next, and yet held together by the overall structure of the grille. The thinness of the medium on the page makes the drawing feel so light, almost weightless, which is an interesting contrast to the heavy, solid nature of iron. Like the drawings of Agnes Martin, this image is not only about what it depicts, but also about the act of seeing and the meditative quality of repetition. It reminds us that art is not just about grand gestures, but also about the quiet beauty of everyday things.