Saint Bartholomew's Gate 1907

Joseph Pennell made this etching, Saint Bartholomew's Gate, in 1903, and you can see it now at the Art Institute of Chicago. Etchings always feel a bit like a peek into the artist's brain; you see the world through a scrim of lines. In this piece, Pennell uses a dense network of fine lines to capture the architectural details and bustling atmosphere of London. The marks are so close together, creating areas of shadow and depth, but there are open spaces where the paper shows through, almost like breathing room. Look closely at the lower part of the image. See how the lines suggest the cobblestones of the street, each stroke varying in pressure? That kind of attention to texture gives the piece a palpable, almost gritty feel, like you could reach out and touch the city. I wonder if Pennell was looking at Whistler, who was a master of capturing the mood of a place with just a few carefully placed lines. I think there’s something profound in their shared appreciation for the quiet beauty of everyday life.