The Gun Pit, No.I 1917

"The Gun Pit, No.I," an etching from 1917 by Joseph Pennell, captures the industrial landscape of wartime. The composition focuses on a shadowy, enclosed space, a "gun pit," through which a massive cannon is being moved. The view beyond the opening shows a bustling factory, with smokestacks billowing and other cannons in the distance. Pennell's expert use of line and shadow creates a sense of both claustrophobia and awe, reflecting the scale of wartime industrial production. This etching, along with Pennell's other works from this period, offers valuable insight into the artist's experiences and the evolving industrial landscape of the early 20th century.