La Place, Beauvais 1907

Joseph Pennell made this print, La Place, Beauvais, with swift, light marks that give a sense of a fleeting moment. It's like Pennell was trying to catch the air itself. I can almost feel the artist standing there, maybe a bit overwhelmed by the grand cathedral looming over the everyday bustle of the marketplace. Think about the choice to focus on the ordinary, the vendors and shoppers, rather than the obvious grandeur. It reminds me that art isn't always about the big statement; sometimes, it's about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Look at how Pennell uses line to create depth, drawing you into the scene. It's not just a picture; it's an experience, a slice of life captured in ink. It makes me think about how we, as artists, are always in conversation with each other, riffing on the same old themes but with a new spin. We make new marks to see the world from different angles.