Cast Iron Gate c. 1936

This drawing, Cast Iron Gate, by Lucien Verbeke is a study in black ink, a mechanical drawing rendered with a draftsman's expert eye. I'm imagining Verbeke at his drawing table, a meticulous architect inking a precise grid with a fine nib. The gate isn't just a barrier, it's an invitation. Those finials on top, like little crowns, hint at a grand estate. But what gets me are the roses. Two of them, bold and centered, with rough-hewn petals. This makes me think about the hidden labor behind every grand design. The gate promises entry to a manicured garden, yet Verbeke's drawing reminds me of the sweat and grit it takes to forge iron and carve wood. Maybe he's trying to say that beauty comes from the earth, even when it's been shaped by human hands. It's a conversation between form and function, between the ideal and the real.