The Waterworks 1920

This is ‘The Waterworks,’ a print by Joseph Pennell. The sepia ink and delicate etching create an atmospheric haze over the scene, like a faded memory. I imagine Pennell standing on the riverbank, squinting into the light, his hand moving with the drypoint needle, scratching lines into the copper plate. It’s a patient process, building up the image bit by bit, the burr of the drypoint giving the lines a soft, velvety quality. Look at the reflections in the water, the way the buildings seem to dissolve into the shimmering surface. He captures a sense of place, but also a feeling, a mood. Pennell was part of a generation of artists fascinated by industry and urban life, and his prints often celebrate the energy and dynamism of the modern city. The way he's created this piece, all these cross-hatched lines, reminds me of Whistler, another great printmaker who was exploring similar themes at the time. Artists are always in conversation with one another, responding to and building upon each other’s ideas, and that’s how art evolves.