St. Peters from the Pincian Gardens 1911

Joseph Pennell made this etching of St. Peters from the Pincian Gardens, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century, we don't know exactly when. It's all about these delicate lines, a whole dance of marks that build into the image, right? The sepia tones give it that old-timey feel, like a faded photograph. Pennell wasn't throwing paint around like me; his etching is precise, controlled. Look closely, and you can almost feel the sharp point of the needle scratching the plate. Then, the acid bath does its thing, creating those grooves that hold the ink, which is later pressed onto the paper. The way the light filters through the trees is magical, don't you think? It's like he's captured a fleeting moment, a memory of a place. It’s also a bit like Whistler, who made these very moody, tonal scenes. It reminds us that art is a conversation, artists looking and learning from each other, adding their own little spin.