Cemetary Plot Enclosure c. 1937

Charlotte Angus made this drawing of a Cemetery Plot Enclosure sometime in the 20th century, using graphite on paper. The marks are careful, precise, and yet somehow tender, not unlike the ironwork it depicts. There’s a lovely contrast between the subject and its medium; graphite is so soft, while iron is hard and unyielding. Look at the delicate shading of the grapes and leaves, and how Angus manages to evoke the weight of the chains and lyre. The surface of the paper is smooth, allowing the graphite to create a range of tones, from light grey to near black. The subtle gradations give the drawing depth, as if the enclosure is emerging from the page. This drawing reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, in that both artists create a sense of quiet contemplation through simple means. But while Martin’s work is abstract, Angus’s drawing is rooted in the everyday, finding beauty in the functional objects that surround us. In the end, art invites us to see the world in new ways, to find meaning in unexpected places, and to appreciate the beauty of the imperfect.