Cast Iron Fence 1937

Eugene Shellady made this 'Cast Iron Fence' using graphite on paper. The linear quality immediately grabbed my attention, how the details are built up through careful, deliberate mark-making. It's like watching a dance between precision and intuition. Looking closely, you can almost feel the texture of the ironwork through the graphite. The way Shellady uses shading gives a sense of depth, turning something flat into a three-dimensional object. There’s a spot where the lines thicken, where the metal seems to curve, catching the light – it’s these small, considered marks that really make the piece sing. It reminds me a bit of Piranesi's architectural drawings, but with a more personal touch. Shellady captures not just the form, but the essence of the fence. Art isn’t just about seeing, it’s about feeling and experiencing the world in new ways.