San Martín, Segovia c. 1903

Joseph Pennell created this print, San Martín, Segovia, using a whole lotta charcoal and crayon. There’s a great dance between dark and light, pulling you into the hustle and bustle of this Spanish cityscape. I can almost feel Pennell there, squinting in the sun, rapidly sketching to capture the scene. Look at how he's rendered the sky with these quick, scribbly marks – you can feel the energy of the moment. The way he layers the charcoal gives the buildings a real sense of depth and weight. See the way the lines converge, creating a rhythm that leads your eye up to that awesome tower? He’s got me thinking about Whistler, those tonal studies, and the way he finds beauty in the everyday. We artists are always riffing off each other, you know, like a visual game of telephone. It's this back-and-forth that keeps things fresh.