The Elevated 1921

Joseph Pennell made this etching, "The Elevated," using metal, acid, and ink. This wasn’t a new method. Printmaking had been around for centuries, but its use to capture modern life was relatively new. Pennell would have coated a metal plate with a waxy ground, then drawn the image with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. Immersing the plate in acid would etch these lines, creating grooves to hold ink. After removing the ground, the plate was inked, wiped clean, and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Look closely, and you'll see the elevated train lines dominating the composition, looming over the figures below. Pennell's process mirrors the industrialization he depicts. The etching mimics the mass-produced steel structures, and the repetitive nature of printmaking echoes the ceaseless activity of the city. It makes you consider the labor involved in building the city, the work of the artist, and the consumption of images in a rapidly changing world. Ultimately, this print blurs the line between documentation and artistic expression, inviting us to consider the social implications of progress and the value of both industry and art.