The Temple by the Sea, Temple of Concord, Girgenti 1913

Curator: Before us stands Joseph Pennell’s 1913 pencil drawing and print, "The Temple by the Sea, Temple of Concord, Girgenti." Editor: It feels incredibly solid, almost imposing despite the relatively soft medium. The geometry dominates. Curator: Pennell's use of pencil really emphasizes the texture and light playing across the ancient structure. Notice how the vertical lines of the columns are mirrored in the grasses below, creating a powerful sense of verticality. Editor: For me, those columns, they are almost like silent sentinels standing guard. There is a quiet dignity evoked by those fluted forms that speaks volumes about cultural memory and resilience, especially knowing this temple was dedicated to Concord. Curator: Indeed. And Pennell very consciously articulates each shadow, giving immense depth to the classical structure. Note how the building's architectural design guides the viewer's eye through the image. There’s a defined horizontal pull countered beautifully by rising diagonals of the landscape. Editor: I keep being drawn back to the light, specifically how it models the columns as almost human, bathed in this golden light that references timeless ideas of civilization and the human capacity for order. The shadows even almost resemble classical contrapposto. Curator: A compelling connection. Looking at the building, the composition reveals the influence of classical geometric forms as guides of artistic output. Editor: Absolutely. The Temple of Concord resonates, echoing both the literal concord sought in ancient times, and, maybe, a deep human desire for harmony which finds resonance through the symbolic. Curator: Precisely. This rendering, from its construction, leads our thinking towards ideas of history as a construct with visual components. It is about much more than mere realism. Editor: This image does more than record, it participates, contributing to how we interact and visualize an ancient monument. A simple drawing which manages to accomplish much.