Toledo c. 1903

Curator: I'm immediately struck by the oppressive darkness, how the charcoal seems to almost absorb the light, contrasted only by the bright opening at the end of the street. Editor: Indeed. We’re looking at Joseph Pennell's “Toledo,” likely created around 1903. It’s a drawing and print that employs pencil, chalk, and charcoal on paper. What draws my attention is the visible labor of the hand in creating this scene, the immediate connection to Pennell's movement across the page. Curator: I can appreciate that connection to the artist. And I find the rendering itself remarkable, the control of value to evoke depth and atmosphere is really something. I am curious about how Pennell made it and if there are preliminary sketches for such piece. Editor: Perhaps, though my interest extends beyond preliminary steps to the social realities captured here. What I see is a meticulously rendered image of labor and routine, of daily life and pedestrian commerce in a vibrant city. It seems almost cinematic in the framing and detail, it captures the real grit. Curator: Cinematic is apt; it feels like a film noir. The strong chiaroscuro certainly enhances that feeling of mystery. But the architecture itself has character, that towering structure looms impressively, especially if you analyze its perspective. The use of perspective enhances the overall mood in my eyes, while the balance creates tension. Editor: I see, yet consider the very material realities of Toledo at the time. Pennell's rendering elevates Toledo. This kind of scene offered specific labor markets, trading opportunities and it served diverse populations; the artwork thus materializes the culture itself. Curator: Certainly, a depiction inextricably tied to those functions and demographics is on display. Though the abstraction present allows for deeper consideration, as the dark rendering prompts emotional tension, and reflection. This, rather, goes far beyond its function, because while functional, the composition is so remarkable that speaks beyond the simple capturing. Editor: Perhaps. But Pennell’s material choices and skillful hand provide insight to our labor systems, both those depicted and the artmaking. Food for thought, to be sure. Curator: Indeed, both our viewpoints offer perspectives worth considering on this intriguing cityscape.