Caissons on Vesey Street 1924

Joseph Pennell pulled this etching, "Caissons on Vesey Street", to show us the bones of a building being built, like a skeleton. There's a real process here, you can feel it - the lines scrabbling and scratching to build the forms. It's interesting to look at how the texture of the etching creates a smoky, almost dreamlike atmosphere. The lines are raw, exposed, there's a directness in the mark-making. Look how the lines build up to give a sense of depth, and how some areas are left almost untouched. See how the tower fades into the background? That deliberate use of light and shadow is what gives the print its power. I'm reminded of Piranesi's architectural prints, and the way he built these strange, impossible structures. There's a similar sense of drama here, a kind of romantic vision of industry. Art's not about answers, it's about the conversation.