Falls Station 1919

Joseph Pennell made this print, Falls Station, Niagara, using etching, and you can see the careful way he built up the image with tiny lines. For me, it’s not just a picture, but a record of a process, like a dance between the artist and the metal plate. Look closely, and you’ll notice how the lines vary – some are light and delicate, others are darker and more assertive. See the mass of tiny strokes describing the steam from the train? It’s almost like he’s sketching with acid, letting the medium do some of the work. It’s this attention to detail that really makes the piece sing. Pennell's working in the tradition of printmakers like Whistler and Piranesi, capturing the grandeur of a scene while embracing the beauty of the accidental mark. It feels like a conversation, not just between the artist and the plate, but across time, too.