Leadenhall Market, II 1903

Joseph Pennell made this print of Leadenhall Market at the beginning of the twentieth century. He used etching, which is a printmaking process where the artist draws into a waxy ground on a metal plate. The plate is then dipped in acid, which bites away at the exposed metal, leaving an image that can be inked and printed. Look closely and you can see how Pennell used a flurry of tiny, energetic lines to create this bustling scene. The etching feels immediate and alive. The surface is a pale grey, with the image built up from tiny marks. Pennell is almost sketching with acid, capturing the atmosphere of the market with just a few deft strokes. See how the lines are denser in the shadowy areas under the archway, and how they become lighter and more sparse as our eye travels further into the distance? This reminds me of Whistler’s etchings, which also capture the fleeting impressions of modern life. Like Whistler, Pennell isn't trying to give us a perfect picture. Instead, he embraces the accidents and imperfections of the etching process. He wants us to feel the pulse of the city, rather than just see it.