Cast Iron Gate Top 1938

J. Howard Iams drew this cast iron gate top, probably in pencil, and in the early 20th century by the looks of it. You know, I can almost feel Iams sitting in front of the gate with his paper and pencil and patiently tracing the elaborate design. It’s such a labor of love! Look at the angels on either side of that urn and notice the beautiful swirls and flourishes of the ironwork. Imagine how ornate the gate must have been! I’m thinking about the tradition of draftsmanship at the turn of the last century, when artists were trained to copy and reproduce things. The ability to depict something accurately was paramount. I bet Iams had great training! Artists influence one another across time, each building upon the techniques and ideas of those who came before, so that even this humble drawing is a contribution to a larger conversation. What do you see in the work?