Firelight – Joseph Pennell, No. 2 1896

"Firelight – Joseph Pennell, No. 2" is a 1896 pencil sketch by James Abbott McNeill Whistler. The drawing depicts Joseph Pennell, an American artist and illustrator, seated in a chair. Whistler’s unique style is characterized by his use of loose, gestural lines to capture the essence of his subject, which he also made famous in his series of "Nocturnes" paintings. The artist’s emphasis on light and shadow creates a sense of atmospheric depth in the drawing. The quick sketch is a testament to Whistler's expertise in capturing the likeness of a figure with a few, well-placed lines.