Five O'Clock 1916

Joseph Pennell rendered “Five O’Clock” as a somber lithograph, an image of industry and labor, documenting the era's changing social landscape. Pennell, working during a period of rapid industrialization, offers us a glimpse into the lives of the working class. The sketch depicts laborers leaving factories, their figures small against the looming industrial architecture and smog-filled sky. The image presents a perspective on the environmental and human costs of progress. The artist's choice to depict the workers at the end of their day evokes themes of exhaustion, routine, and the human toll of labor. The lack of distinct detail in the workers’ faces renders them almost anonymous, inviting a broader reflection on the collective experience of the working class. Pennell captures a moment in time, but also reflects on the broader societal structures and individual stories interwoven within the landscape of industry.