Old Million Eyes 1909

Editor: We’re looking at Joseph Pennell's "Old Million Eyes," an etching from 1909. The print on paper depicts a multi-tiered industrial complex dominating a mountainside. It strikes me as both impressive in its scale and somewhat bleak, given the repetitive nature of the architecture. What do you see in this work? Curator: The eye is immediately drawn to the formal arrangement, is it not? The ascending structures, delineated through meticulous etching, create a dynamic interplay of line and form. Notice how the artist employs linear perspective not for the creation of depth, but to emphasize the towering effect of the industrial complex against the landscape. Editor: Yes, the lines draw you upward. I also see a strong contrast between the dark buildings and the lighter sky. Curator: Precisely. It’s this very contrast, created by the skillful manipulation of light and shadow through the etching process, that yields the dramatic effect. Observe how the closely packed, rhythmic windows act as points of light, breaking up the monolithic structure. What impact does the composition have on your reading? Editor: The rhythmic repetition gives it a feeling of overwhelming order, but maybe also coldness. It looks functional, not inviting. Is that the goal of the piece? Curator: Objective aesthetic analysis does not necessitate exploration of an artist’s intentions, which are often inscrutable or simply irrelevant to the assessment of artistic value. Notice the way Pennell focuses on geometrical relationships: horizontals and verticals within windows vs the landscape outside. This suggests a deep structural appreciation, doesn't it? Editor: I see that now; focusing on structure and geometry takes away personal expression and intention. It's like breaking down the art into shapes and lines. I guess the emotional bleakness comes from its formal elements. Curator: Precisely. Reducing our focus to form can unveil nuanced structures which we might not otherwise observe, expanding how we comprehend works like Pennell’s "Old Million Eyes".