Making War Locomotives 1917

Joseph Pennell made this drawing called, ‘Making War Locomotives’ with pencil on paper. The marks here are so alive, look at how freely the pencil moves! The drawing feels like a snapshot of pure energy, especially where the locomotives and workers are crammed together, a real hive of industry. You can almost feel the weight and heat of the metal and the intensity of labor. Pennell captures a sense of dynamism not just in the subject matter, but in the making of the art itself. See how the lines aren't just descriptive but expressive, contributing to the overall emotional impact of the scene? Think of the Italian Futurists, like Umberto Boccioni, who wanted to capture movement and speed in their work. Like them, Pennell shows us that art can be a process of discovery, a way of engaging with the world in all its messy, complicated glory. It’s not just about what you see, but how you see it, and what it makes you feel.