Amiens from the Old Town 1907

Joseph Pennell’s 1907 etching, *Amiens from the Old Town*, depicts a bustling street scene in the French city of Amiens. Pennell was a prominent American artist known for his distinctive style of urban landscapes. The towering Amiens Cathedral, with its intricate details and soaring spire, dominates the composition, while smaller buildings and figures in the foreground provide a sense of scale and human activity. The use of etching, a printmaking technique that involves using acid to etch lines into a metal plate, lends a characteristically delicate and atmospheric quality to the artwork. This captivating piece, now part of the Minneapolis Institute of Art's collection, offers a glimpse into the charm and history of Amiens.