The Odeon, Athens 1913

Joseph Pennell made this drawing of The Odeon in Athens with what looks like charcoal or a soft graphite, a real softy, smudging it all over the paper. The ruins are so present, the marks feel crumbly and dusty, like the stone itself. Look at the way the marks build up the depth of the amphitheater, the looping lines suggesting the worn steps, then your eye travels upwards to the temple and the sky behind. I’m particularly drawn to the sky; the way he’s suggested the clouds with these light, almost nervous scribbles. Pennell's choice to leave parts of the paper untouched lets the light flood in, creating a real sense of atmosphere. You know, there’s something about the way he handles the light that reminds me a little of Whistler, another artist who was obsessed with capturing a sense of place. Art's just one big conversation, isn't it? It’s like they are saying, hey, look at this, and the next artist is all, yeah, but what about this?