Wrought Iron Balcony Railing c. 1936

Arelia Arbo created this Wrought Iron Balcony Railing in tones of grey, with tools unknown. Here, the image almost emerges from a haze. There’s a softness, an atmospheric quality, that suggests a certain kind of looking. It’s a way of seeing that values process over precision, feeling over fact. Looking closely at the shadows beneath the balcony, you can see the texture in how the pigment has been applied, creating a kind of dance between the light and dark. It reminds me of the work of Giorgio Morandi. Like Morandi, Arbo creates a mood that is contemplative, quiet, and deeply personal. The shapes aren't quite clear, but this ambiguity invites us to pause, to reflect, and to find our own meaning in the spaces between things. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about what we see, but how we see it.