Under the Shed 1917

Joseph Pennell created this drawing, Under the Shed, with crayon or charcoal. It’s so gestural and expressive, you can almost feel the artist at work, wrestling with the image, shifting the composition, until it takes form. I wonder what it was like for Pennell to make this image, surrounded by all that industry. Did he feel the need to capture a moment in time? I think it's a compelling work on paper. The marks give a sense of light and shadow and solidity to the scene. I am drawn to the way that the white of the paper peeks through, giving a sense of depth and space. I’m reminded of other artists, such as Whistler or the Ashcan School painters, who were also interested in capturing scenes of modern life. Artists are always in conversation with one another across time. Pennell's drawing invites us to consider the beauty and complexity of industry.