London Over Embankment Gardens 1906

Joseph Pennell made this etching of London, somewhere around the turn of the century, with ink on paper. It’s a city scene—maybe London—with a bridge and a big building in the background. Looking at it, I start to think about the artist. It's all about mark-making, and how they created the tones through etching techniques. What was Pennell thinking when they made it? What were they trying to capture? The darks are so dark and gradated, it's a physical thing you feel in your fingers. I can imagine their hand moving across the plate, creating a world through lines and textures. The more I look, the more I appreciate how this piece talks to other painters, an ongoing conversation across time. It makes me want to get back into the studio and start working on my own etchings. The artist encourages us to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.