The Harbor 1913

Joseph Pennell made this moody print, The Harbor, using lithographic crayon and ink. It's like he’s feeling out the scene, each mark searching for form in the grainy blue depths. Looking closely, you can see how Pennell used the side of the crayon to create areas of tone and texture. It gives the whole harbor a sort of dreamy, unreal feel. The linework is so deliberate, building up this incredible depth that suggests a vast, breathing space. It makes you want to keep looking, to unravel the mysteries of the harbor. It reminds me of Whistler's prints - that same attention to tone and atmosphere. But, Pennell brings something different; a kind of raw energy that I find particularly compelling. Art is just this continuous echo, isn’t it?