St. John's Gate, Clerkenwell 1903

Joseph Pennell made this etching of St. John's Gate in Clerkenwell in 1905. There’s an immediacy to the mark-making, like he’s figuring it out as he goes, scratching and scribbling to find the form. The texture of the stone is so present; it's almost like you could reach out and feel the roughness of the wall. The light and shadow play across the surface, creating depth and a sense of atmosphere. I love the way he’s handled the archway itself. It's dark and mysterious, pulling you in. And look at the figures passing through – they’re barely there, just hints of movement, which makes you wonder about their stories, and what the gate means to them. Pennell, like Whistler, was super interested in capturing the spirit of a place, and how it feels to be there, in that particular moment in time. It's all about mood and atmosphere, a conversation between the past and present.