Subway Excavation 1920

Joseph Pennell made this etching, Building Kingsway, London, by incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and pressing it onto paper. The dominant impression is linear, with the diagonal lines suggesting a dynamic construction site. I can almost feel the weight of the architecture bearing down, the density of the labor involved. There is a strong contrast between the solidity of the built environment and the ephemeral nature of the etching medium. I wonder what Pennell was thinking about when he made this? Was he trying to capture the energy of urban development, or was he more interested in the play of light and shadow across the scene? This reminds me of Piranesi, with all the lines and labyrinthine networks. Artists like Pennell and Piranesi engage in an ongoing conversation across time and space, inspiring each other’s creativity. Their works invite us to explore the ambiguities and uncertainties inherent in the creative process, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings.