Signers' Room, Independence Hall 1912

Joseph Pennell made this drawing of the Signers' Room in Independence Hall, using what looks like graphite or ink to create the image. It’s all about the energy of the line, isn't it? I mean, look at those marks. It’s amazing how much detail he gets with what appears to be simple hatching and cross-hatching techniques, to render form and volume. It feels like a super quick sketch, yet it’s full of information. Notice the way the lines vary in thickness and darkness, creating a sense of depth and shadow. The chandelier looks like a chaotic mass of dark lines, suspended from the ornate ceiling, and it becomes this visual anchor that draws your eye upwards. I am reminded of Piranesi's etchings of fantastical architectural spaces, or even the drawings of Charles Meryon. There is a similar sense of atmosphere and drama and the treatment of light and shadow. These artists, like Pennell, were more interested in evoking a feeling than capturing a literal representation.