The Big Mill, Gary, Indiana 1914

Joseph Pennell made "The Big Mill, Gary, Indiana" as an etching, so the process involves scratching into a metal plate to make a picture. Pennell clearly enjoyed drawing structures, maybe because of how they create new kinds of space. Look at the smoke and steam in this image. See how the lines create depth and volume, almost like you could reach out and touch them? This etching really captures the industrial feel of the mill, but there's something beautiful in the repetition of lines and shapes. Notice the detailed cross-hatching, where the artist has layered lines to build up tone and texture. It reminds me a little of Piranesi and his feverish architectural imaginings. What I like about this piece is that it doesn't shy away from the gritty reality of industrial life. Instead, it finds a kind of stark beauty in the scene. It’s like he's saying, "This is the world we've built, and there's something powerful about it."