Corinth, towards the Gulf 1913

Joseph Pennell made this drawing of Corinth, towards the Gulf, most likely with graphite on paper, and you can really see his working process. I like how he’s built up the image bit by bit with lots of little hatching marks. The drawing has a lovely, light touch, but it still manages to convey a real sense of depth and atmosphere. Look at the way he's used darker, more concentrated lines to suggest the shadows and crevices in the foreground ruins, compared to the lighter, sketchier lines used for the distant mountains and sky. There's a great contrast between the solidity of the ancient ruins and the hazy, almost ethereal quality of the landscape beyond. It reminds me a little bit of Piranesi's etchings of Roman ruins, but with a more intimate, personal feel. Both artists share a fascination with the grandeur and decay of the past, but Pennell's drawing has a softness and immediacy that invites you to imagine yourself standing right there, looking out over the Gulf.