The Thames 1894

Joseph Pennell created this etching called 'The Thames' which now resides in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It shows London’s famous river shrouded in an atmospheric haze. Pennell was an American expatriate, part of a wave of artists who flocked to Europe in the late 19th century, drawn by its rich artistic heritage and the buzz of modern urban life. The etching technique allowed him to capture the industrial grit and the bustling energy of the Thames. You can see the bridge and factories rising in the background. What was once a picturesque scene is now heavily industrialized. The image is far from celebratory though. In fact, it is quite the opposite. By studying the exhibition history of prints like these, we can see how artists were trying to negotiate their place in a rapidly changing world. The art world at the time was starting to reflect the deep social and economic anxieties of the time.