On the Way to Bessemer 19th-20th century

Curator: Joseph Pennell's etching, "On the Way to Bessemer," depicts a landscape dominated by industry. The sky is thick with plumes of smoke rising from factories and mills. Editor: It's sooty, almost oppressive. The composition, with its towering industrial structures, evokes a sense of monumental scale, but it's a grim monument. Curator: Pennell was known for his industrial scenes; this piece showcases his mastery of line, particularly in rendering the intricate details of the bridges and railways. He was very much interested in portraying the modern industrial landscape. Editor: The contrasts are striking. He is drawing a stark portrait of industrial development and its impact. It really makes you consider how urban landscapes were being changed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Curator: Pennell’s rendering of the city is interesting, and I think the dark materiality is quite beautiful in its own way. Editor: It's a visually arresting and historically significant work. The composition serves to make a statement about the power of industry.