On Iron

Presenting artwork on iron fundamentally transforms the image. Here, the paper alone is no longer at the center; instead, it is the interaction between painting and material that comes to the fore. The handcrafted iron plates carry the handmade paper like a calm, powerful counterpart, turning each work into an independent object.

The examples shown illustrate the difference between image formats: The same motif appears distinctly different on an iron plate depending on whether it is executed in approximately A4 or A5 size. Larger images occupy the surface more fully and assert their presence, while smaller formats deliberately create open zones—space that allows the motif to breathe and makes the material itself more visible.

All iron plates are available in three sizes. The price is determined solely by the size of the iron plate—regardless of which artwork is mounted on it.

Sizes at a Glance

The two images illustrate, by way of example, how the same artwork appears on iron plates of different sizes. On the left, a motif on handmade paper in approximately A4 format (gold leaf) is shown; on the right, a motif in approximately A5 format (red document ink). Both image formats are presented on iron plates in sizes Small, Medium and Large, making it possible to clearly perceive how the size of the plate influences the artwork’s impact and spatial presence.

Presenting artworks on handcrafted iron plates adds an additional dimension to the works from Atelier Wonnereich. The image does not stand apart from the space but enters into a relationship with it. Paper, pigment and metal form a unified whole that consciously engages with materiality, weight and surface.

The iron plates are controlled-rusted in the atelier. The resulting patina is never identical: sometimes calm and uniform, sometimes vividly structured, with fine perforations or graphic traces. Each plate is unique—and thus an independent artwork in its own right,carrying, extending and grounding the image.

To make the effect of different formats tangible, the images above show how the very same motif appears on iron plates in various sizes.

Iron Plate Sizes

Small – approx. 24 × 32 cm (approx. 9.4 × 12.6 in)

Medium – approx. 31 × 40 cm (approx. 12.2 × 15.7 in)

Large – approx. 40 × 50 cm (approx. 15.7 × 19.7 in)


The larger the iron plate, the more space the image is given—appearing freer, calmer and more deeply integrated into the room. Custom sizes can also be produced upon request; lead times may extend over several weeks.

Smaller image formats, too, gain presence and depth when mounted on a larger plate. The ratio between image surface and metal decisively shapes perception.

Choosing the plate size is therefore less a question of image format than of the desired effect within the space: concentrated and compact—or generous and calm.

All iron plates are reversible. Front and back often display very different rust patterns, allowing the presentation to be altered even at a later stage. Mounting is generally done using a magnet system, enabling easy exchange of artworks; in some cases, works are permanently mounted—relevant information is provided in the individual product descriptions.

Regardless of the chosen motif, the following applies: the iron plate is not considered an accessory, but an integral part of the artwork. Pricing is determined solely by the size of the plate—not by the image format.

The result is a contemporary form of presentation that unites craftsmanship, material and image into a calm yet powerful whole.

Selected finished works on iron: