Golden Cornice, No.II 1915

Joseph Pennell made this etching, Golden Cornice, No. II, whenever, using ink on paper. The whole thing shimmers with energy, the lines are so alive! You can really see Pennell working through the image, building it up bit by bit. Look closely, and you'll see how he uses these tiny, almost frantic lines to capture the city. It’s all about the texture, the way the light hits those buildings. It feels like a real place, but also like a dream. There’s a spot, right in the middle of the composition, where the ink gets really dense and dark; it anchors the whole thing, giving it weight and depth. It makes me think of how we experience cities – a mix of chaos and order, light and shadow. Pennell's work has some similarities with Whistler’s; both artists are so attuned to the nuances of tone and atmosphere. Ultimately, this print invites us to see the world in a new way. It's all about the process, the journey of making, and the endless possibilities of art.