Falls Station, Niagara 1910

Joseph Pennell made this drawing of Falls Station, Niagara, using what looks like graphite on paper. It’s a scene dominated by the massive waterfall, but it's the marks he makes to describe the scene that really get me going. Pennell's technique is all about capturing the essence of the moment, the mood, through simple, gestural marks. The texture of the paper peeks through, giving the drawing a lively, unfinished quality, like a quick sketch from life. I love how he suggests form and depth with just a few strokes. Take a look at the way he’s described the train and its tracks in the foreground, then compare that to the falls themselves in the background. The contrast between the solidity of the train and the ephemerality of the water is gorgeous. It reminds me a bit of Whistler’s etchings, though Pennell’s marks feel a little more urgent, a little less studied. Like all good drawings, it's not just about what's depicted, but about the act of seeing, of capturing a fleeting moment.