National Red Cross Headquarters, Washington 1919

Editor: This is Joseph Pennell's 1919 print of the National Red Cross Headquarters in Washington. It’s an ink drawing, and what strikes me most is how the meticulous rendering of the building contrasts with the sketchier trees framing it. What can you tell me about Pennell's methods and the choices he made? Curator: As a materialist, I’m interested in how Pennell uses the medium of ink to portray power. Note the contrast you pointed out – the hard, regimented lines defining the neoclassical architecture versus the softer, more organic lines used for nature. This speaks to the industrialization and organization of charity. The print medium also democratizes access to this image. Editor: So, the choice of printmaking is important for distributing the image widely? Curator: Precisely. The Red Cross, at this time, was gaining prominence as a global humanitarian organization. Creating a print, readily reproducible, serves a purpose, allowing it to act almost like propaganda to generate further material support. Editor: That makes sense. I hadn’t considered the implications of choosing print over, say, painting. Curator: Think about the labour involved. Printmaking, while artistic, also carries the weight of the factory. What societal message might that have given the consumers of this art? It also affects how we value such artistic production versus other visual media. Editor: It’s fascinating to think about how the materials and means of production were carefully chosen to shape public perception. I'll definitely view prints differently from now on. Curator: Agreed. This approach allows us to consider the deeper layers of the social, political and material reality interwoven in the creation of an artwork.