The Ants 1917

"The Ants" is a 1917 drawing by Joseph Pennell that depicts a large warship under construction in a drydock. The detailed, yet impressionistic, pencil lines capture the intricate network of scaffolding and the bustling activity of the workers. Pennell’s depiction of the ship as a giant ant colony, with human workers as the individual ants, highlights the scale and complexity of the industrial effort. The work reflects the American war effort during World War I, with ships being a vital resource in the fight against the Germans.