Aetna from Taormina 1913

Joseph Pennell made this etching, Aetna from Taormina, and it's all about the art of mark-making. Pennell wasn't afraid to let his process show. Look at the ruins. See how he's used a super-fine, almost frantic line? It gives the stone this crumbly, ancient feel. Then zoom out, and notice how those lines build up the whole scene, creating a sense of depth and light. The surface of the etching is alive with tiny scratches. There's one spot, just to the right of the main arch, where the lines are so dense they almost become a solid shadow. It's like the weight of history is pressing down on that spot. The print reminds me a little bit of Piranesi, who was also obsessed with the weight of history. But where Piranesi is grand and dramatic, Pennell feels more intimate. It's like he's inviting you to get lost in the details, to feel the weight of time in every tiny mark.