St. Paul's Pavement 1905

Joseph Pennell created the print, St. Paul's Pavement, using etching. Pennell was an American expatriate artist, who lived in London for many years. The print depicts St Paul's Cathedral in London. The Cathedral, completed in 1711, is a potent symbol of British resilience, having survived the bombing raids of World War II. Consider how the figures in the foreground are dwarfed by the scale of the building. This composition directs our attention to the architectural achievements of the British Empire while, perhaps unintentionally, suggesting the relative unimportance of the people that constitute it. Pennell was known to hold strong, and at times controversial, views on society and politics, often expressed through his art. Pennell’s work invites us to reflect on the narratives and power structures embedded within architectural spaces. The print encourages us to consider the relationship between individuals and institutions. In essence, it's a meditation on identity, belonging, and the silent dialogues enacted within the spaces we inhabit.