Sunset from Williamsburg Bridge 1915

Joseph Pennell etched this print, *Sunset from Williamsburg Bridge,* capturing the poetics of urban industry. The sun, a dominant motif, sits as a hazy halo over the city, a symbol of enlightenment dimmed by the industrial age. Think back to Turner's fiery sunsets, or even further, to ancient sun gods like Apollo. The sun has always represented power, energy, and the cycle of life. Here, however, it's filtered through smoke and smog, a melancholic reminder of nature subdued by progress. This sunset evokes a collective memory of romantic landscapes, yet it’s now set against a modern cityscape. It speaks to our subconscious longing for the pastoral, even as we are drawn to the dynamism of the modern world. Pennell captures that tension, engaging us in the cyclical play of light and shadow. It invites us to reflect on how these age-old symbols persist, transformed but never lost, in our modern consciousness.