Door Knocker 1937

Editor: This is J. Howard Iams’s “Door Knocker” from 1937, a graphite and pencil drawing. There’s something quite nostalgic about it, almost like a memory fading into the page. What kind of visual language do you see at play here? Curator: What strikes me is how Iams elevates these functional objects. Door knockers, traditionally symbols of entry and invitation, are rendered with a level of detail usually reserved for portraiture or revered iconography. Think of the threshold guardian – the figure, animal or spirit protecting the entrance in various mythologies. Iams' door knockers aren't just metal; they become stand-ins for something more potent, suggesting control over who gains access, literally and metaphorically. Editor: That's interesting! It’s almost like he’s capturing a kind of architectural portrait. Does the drawing style impact this sense of symbolic weight? Curator: Absolutely. The academic style lends a certain gravity. These aren’t quick sketches; there's careful observation, a commitment to realism. The shading and the rendering of light give them a tactile quality. One could almost reach out and touch the cold metal. Consider, what emotional memories might attach themselves to such a seemingly banal object? What unspoken stories reside behind the doors these knockers guard? Editor: I never considered that, but seeing them this way, they feel more significant now. I will keep this idea of symbols alive through imagery for other encounters. Curator: Exactly! It’s the silent language of objects – a language constantly in conversation with our history, culture, and psyche.