Sunlight Soap 1905

Joseph Pennell's "Sunlight Soap" is an intricate dance of dark lines on a pale ground, likely made with etching. It probably emerged through a process of layering and wiping, trying to capture the essence of a bustling street scene. I can almost feel Pennell’s hand moving across the plate, scratching those tiny marks, and thinking about light, shadow, and form. What was it like to stand there and look? What stories did he imagine for those people gathered in front of the Sunlight Soap shop? I bet he struggled like I do, with every line holding the risk of ruining everything. There's something about the roughness of the lines that gives the work an honesty, like the raw and unfiltered observations of a city dweller. It makes me think of other urban sketchers like Whistler, capturing everyday life with a sense of urgency. It shows us how artists are always in conversation, borrowing, and expanding on each other's ideas. It’s all about feeling and intuition, isn't it?