Coal—The Great Incline, Breaker, Mahanoy City 1908

"Coal—The Great Incline, Breaker, Mahanoy City," a 1908 etching by American artist Joseph Pennell, depicts the imposing industrial landscape of a coal breaker in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania. The artwork, currently housed at The Art Institute of Chicago, captures the gritty reality of the coal mining industry through the use of dark, expressive lines and dramatic shadows. Pennell’s signature style, known for its bold dynamism, is evident in the detailed rendering of the massive machinery and the figures dwarfed by the colossal structure. This artwork is a testament to the artist's fascination with modern urban environments and the power of industrialization.