The New Gun-Pit 1916

Joseph Pennell made this print of ‘The New Gun-Pit’ with what looks like charcoal or maybe lithographic crayon, and it’s all about the energy of marks on a surface. It’s a jumble of lines and tones that come together to form an impressive industrial scene. The drawing is a marvel of texture. Pennell uses these short, sharp strokes to suggest the grit and grime of the factory floor, then he lets loose with long, sweeping lines to capture the massive scale of the machinery. The repetition of these lines, and the way they build up, creates a real sense of movement and activity, it almost feels like the whole scene is vibrating. Look at the crisscrossing lines in the upper portion of the work; they convey depth and shadow but also a frenetic energy. It reminds me a bit of Piranesi, actually, but with a modern, industrial twist. Ultimately, this print is about the process of seeing and making, and how we construct meaning through marks on a page.