Cast Iron Gate and Fence c. 1936

This watercolor on paper shows a cast iron gate and fence, made by Al Curry sometime between 1855 and 1995. The way the grey wash has been applied feels very intuitive, as if the artist were letting the tones evolve and respond to the details of the design. There's something so satisfying about the surface of this painting. It’s as if Curry is deliberately allowing the architecture to emerge through the action of the brush. Look at the way he's rendered the ornate ironwork. It’s dark, but with all this space around it for light to pass through, and is carefully lined to distinguish each and every flourish. It stands in contrast to the smooth, gradient washes used for the sky and buildings which almost disappear into the background. This piece reminds me of the work of Charles Burchfield, who also found beauty and inspiration in everyday American scenes. Both artists celebrate the mundane and find poetry in the overlooked corners of the world, embracing the multiple ways we interpret the beauty around us.