Broadway, Above Twenty-Third Street 1904

Joseph Pennell made this drawing of Broadway, above Twenty-Third Street, with what looks like graphite on paper. There's a real looseness to the work, a sense that Pennell was interested in capturing a feeling, an impression of the city, rather than a photographic likeness. Check out how the lines in the sky are almost scribbled, chaotic, while the buildings are rendered with more precision. It's like the city is solid and imposing, but the atmosphere is constantly shifting, a whirlwind of energy. You can almost feel the hustle and bustle of the street, the vibration of the city. This reminds me of Whistler's etchings, that same interest in capturing the fleeting beauty of modern life. Like any good drawing, it's more about the question than the answer.