St. John's Gate, Clerkenwell 1903

Joseph Pennell made this etching of St. John's Gate in Clerkenwell sometime around 1905. I'm imagining Pennell, out on the street with his etching plate and tools. There's such a sense of observation here, of really looking. The marks feel so intentional, capturing the texture of the stone, the depth of the archway, and the figures passing through. I bet he had to work quickly to capture them as they moved, deciding what to include and what to leave out. The contrast between light and shadow is just gorgeous. You can really feel the weight of history, in this old gate, a kind of portal to another time. It’s almost like Piranesi, but less dramatic and more grounded in everyday life. Pennell was part of a larger movement of artists who were interested in depicting modern urban life. They were all in conversation, all pushing each other to see the world in new ways. Ultimately, I love how this piece captures a fleeting moment in time. It embraces all the ambiguity and uncertainty of life.