View on the Spree, Berlin 1921

Joseph Pennell made this print, View on the Spree, Berlin, with ink on paper. Look at how the lines in the sky seem to wiggle like worms, and how they thicken and pool to define the shapes of the buildings and the figures walking along the riverfront. The feeling of this piece comes from the physicality of the medium. It's easy to imagine Pennell’s hand moving across the plate, building up the image with these tiny, almost frantic marks. See how the artist creates depth by layering lines – a dense network in the foreground that gradually thins out towards the horizon. There’s a real push and pull between detail and abstraction. This reminds me a little of Whistler’s etchings. They both share a love for capturing the fleeting moments of urban life. Both artists explore the beauty of industrial landscapes with a similar sensibility, celebrating the energy and dynamism of the modern city. But, whereas Whistler’s works are more concerned with composition and form, Pennell's work feels more immediate. It’s like we’re right there with him, sketching in real-time.