The Columns of Castor and Pollux, Girgenti 1913

Joseph Pennell made this etching of The Columns of Castor and Pollux, Girgenti, date unknown, with what looks like a commitment to tonal accuracy as a kind of end in itself. I mean, it's basically gray on gray on gray, and yet, look at how the sunlight seems to almost drip off the ancient stones. Check out the lower right corner, where the land gives way to sky. See how the cross-hatching gets lighter and looser? It’s like Pennell is saying, "Okay, sky, you win. You're just going to be atmosphere." I love how he lets the image fade away into the ether, embracing the incompleteness of the scene. It reminds me a little bit of Piranesi, that old master of architectural fantasy, but with less drama and more of a straightforward, "I was there, and it looked like this" vibe. Art isn't about perfect replicas, it's about offering a feeling, an echo of a moment in time.