Coal Breaker on the River 1910

Joseph Pennell made this print, Coal Breaker on the River, using monochrome ink to illustrate the harsh landscape of a mining community. He uses hatching and cross-hatching to create a range of shading and texture, which really brings this industrial scene to life. The composition is really striking, and I can imagine Pennell out in the cold, sketching and drawing this out on site. It makes me wonder, what was he thinking as he captured the scene? Was he focusing on the shapes or the stories of the people who lived and worked there? The smoke billows behind the heavy structures. For me, it brings to mind the work of other artists who have explored industrial themes. Artists are always building on what came before, whether they know it or not. There's a real connection to the everyday experience. And it goes to show how artists can use their work to spark conversations about the world we all share, finding poetry in the unexpected.