Rebuilding the Campanile, Venice, No.II 1911

Joseph Pennell made this print called "Rebuilding the Campanile, Venice, No. II", using etching to capture a moment of reconstruction. The limited palette emphasizes process, the act of building and rebuilding, both literally and metaphorically. Pennell's etching is a delicate dance of lines and tones, the surface alive with the energy of the scene. Notice the scaffolding around the Campanile; it is rendered with such detail. These marks show Pennell’s labor, but also highlight the labor of those rebuilding Venice itself. Look closer and you can see the textures of the stone and brick, the bustling crowds, and the play of light and shadow. The whole scene is a blur of activity, but Pennell hones in on the details of Venetian life. Pennell's interest in urban scenes and architectural subjects reminds me a little of Piranesi. While Piranesi focused on imagined and historical grandeur, Pennell finds beauty in the everyday realities of a city in transition. Ultimately, this etching invites us to consider the layers of history and human experience embedded within the urban landscape.