The Great Hammer 1916

Joseph Pennell made this etching, The Great Hammer, at an unknown date, using what looks like a pretty direct approach. I mean, you can almost feel the scratch of the needle on the plate, right? There's a lot of darkness here, which is interesting, because it makes the industrial scene feel both powerful and a little ominous. Look how he uses these tiny, quick lines to build up the tones. It's almost like he's sketching with acid. I keep coming back to the upper right corner, that mass of scribbled lines that suggests smoke, shadow, something undefined. It's like the whole factory is breathing. It reminds me a little bit of Piranesi's etchings of prisons, these monumental spaces that seem to dwarf the people inside. Pennell's not quite as dramatic, but there's a similar sense of awe and maybe a touch of fear. It’s a pretty great piece.