Road to the White City, No.II 1912

Joseph Pennell made this print, called "Road to the White City, No. II" without a date, using marks that accumulate to make an image; like building up layers of thought. It's like he's feeling his way through the landscape, one tiny dot at a time. There's a real physicality to the way the image is built. Pennell seems to drag his tool across the plate, almost scratching the surface to build texture and tone. Look at the density of marks in the bottom right corner, those marks create the illusion of depth, pulling you into the scene. Then look at the sky, it almost feels like a blank canvas, waiting for something to happen. This reminds me of Piranesi’s architectural prints. Both artists use a similar language of detail to evoke mood. But unlike Piranesi's dramatic flair, Pennell has a quieter, more contemplative approach. He invites you to wander, to get lost in the details, and to find your own road to the white city.