Caissons on Vesey Street 1924

This etching of Vesey Street was made by Joseph Pennell, and the print is all about process and industry. I love the scratchy energy. I’m trying to imagine Pennell making this, out in the grit, breathing in the dust. You can almost feel the industrial vibrations through the marks he makes. Look at those big, dark lines that define the cranes. They're so full of conviction, like he knew exactly where they needed to go. Then there are the lighter, feathery lines filling in the spaces, giving the scene this airy, ephemeral quality. It's a really interesting contrast. This feels like a dance between precision and chaos. It reminds me a little of the Ashcan School painters, capturing the raw energy of the city. Artists like Pennell show us that art isn't just about pretty pictures, it's about grappling with the world around us, and making sense of it through mark making.