Finishing Shells 1916

Joseph Pennell made this drawing titled 'Finishing Shells' with graphite on paper. Just imagine him there, standing in the factory, maybe sketching quickly to capture the movement of workers. The light is dim and everything's gray, but he's trying to find a way to describe the space, the people, and these shells. I find it fascinating when artists tackle industrial spaces because there's a tension between the mechanical and the human. Pennell is using soft marks, almost caressing the forms to create a sense of depth. Look at the crane hanging from the ceiling. The marks are loose, open, and atmospheric. He might be thinking about how he can convey the monumental scale of production. In a way, the process of drawing mirrors the process of production: a repetitive, iterative, and focused activity. And just like the shells, a drawing like this becomes its own kind of machine, cranking out images and ideas in our minds long after the artist has left the factory.