Cast Iron Gate 1937

Eugene Shellady made this drawing of a cast iron gate with graphite on paper. The way the graphite is layered and blended gives the metal a really interesting sense of depth. You know, when I look at it I think about how every mark contributes to this illusion. The surface is relatively smooth, but you can see where Shellady built up the graphite to create shadows and highlights. Check out the top section with the sunburst design, the shading around that feature is particularly rich. It's like Shellady is playing with how light hits real metal. This reminds me of the work of artists like Vija Celmins, who used graphite to create highly realistic drawings of everyday objects and surfaces. This piece sits in a place between technical drawing and pure imagination. It shows us that even the most functional objects can be beautiful and thought-provoking.