Broad St. Station 1912

Joseph Pennell made this print of Broad St. Station with what looks like charcoal or graphite, and it's all about the beauty of the sketch. You see those lines up in the sky? They’re almost scribbled, like he's trying to capture the feeling of the air moving. What I love about it is how he doesn't try to hide the process. You can see how he built up the image, layer by layer. Look at the way he renders the buildings—it's not about perfect lines, but about capturing the essence of the place. There's a real sense of movement and energy. Notice that dark patch on the building to the left. See how the shading graduates from dark to light? Pennell's love of light reminds me of the Impressionists, but with a tougher edge. It’s like he's saying, "Here's the world, raw and unfinished, but still beautiful." And isn’t that what art is all about?