West Front, Westminster Abbey 1903

Joseph Pennell made this print of the West Front of Westminster Abbey with etching. It’s all about line, the pureness of the etched line, a directness that makes the image feel as though it’s emerging from the ground. Looking closely, you can see how Pennell piles up tiny strokes to give a sense of the Abbey’s overwhelming detail. The facade is a symphony of vertical lines, rising and falling in delicate rhythm. The gray tones feel almost atmospheric, and in contrast, the paper is left bare in some areas, so the image shimmers between presence and absence. I’m drawn to the figures at the bottom, rendered as mere wisps, they give scale to the building, they're there, and then they're not. Pennell’s ability to evoke a sense of awe, whilst still capturing the gritty texture of the city puts me in mind of Piranesi, though Pennell’s is a softer, more subtle vision. And that's the thing with art; it is ever in conversation.