Coal Wharves, Staten Island, No. II 1909

This etching, Coal Wharves, Staten Island, No. II, was made by Joseph Pennell. I can imagine Pennell outside, with his metal plate and tools, capturing this industrial landscape. He’s using line to describe the coal wharves and the hazy atmosphere of the city. There's a real energy in those marks, especially the smokestacks. You can almost feel the grit and grime of the scene, and the weight of the structures. Think about how those lines create depth, suggesting distance and scale. It reminds me of Whistler’s prints of the Thames, this shared interest in urban and industrial subjects. I bet they talked shop! There's an ongoing conversation between artists, each finding their own way to depict the world around them. Ultimately, Pennell's etching, in its depiction of an industrial landscape, embraces the complexities and contradictions of modern life.