The Puerta del Sol, Madrid c. 1903

Joseph Pennell created this busy scene of The Puerta del Sol in Madrid with graphite, gouache, and charcoal on paper. Looking at this bustling square, I can almost feel the artist sketching rapidly, trying to capture the energy of the city. It’s like he's saying, "I need to get all of this down before it moves again." It's such a fleeting moment. He's used these grey tones, the blacks, and the whites, to create depth and movement, and it reminds me of other artists who were working in the city at the time. I can imagine him working and reworking parts of this composition, maybe erasing some lines, reinforcing others. It is an ongoing conversation between what he sees and what he feels. This piece feels like a testament to how artists are constantly in dialogue with their surroundings and with each other, building on ideas and pushing the boundaries of expression. It's like they're all saying something different but contributing to one long sentence.