Temple of Pomona c. 1903

Joseph Pennell made this etching, Temple of Pomona, with ink on paper. The entire image is a kind of haze of tiny, tiny marks. It is less about the thing depicted, a building, and more about the accumulation of lines that suggest that thing. The etched lines are close together, hatching and cross-hatching to build up tones and shadows. There’s a real sense of the artist’s hand at work, scratching into the plate to create these marks. Look at how the lines vary in thickness and direction, creating a sense of depth and texture. Notice the way Pennell captures the bustle of the street, with tiny figures and carriages rendered in just a few quick strokes. It reminds me of Whistler, who was also interested in capturing fleeting moments and atmospheric effects through etching. It is a conversation about representation, and what it means to describe a thing with minimal information.