Building Submarine Chasers 1917

Joseph Pennell made this drawing, Building Submarine Chasers, with graphite, or something like it. Look at the way the pencil lines just keep going – they overlap, scratch, and build into a whole scene. For me, that’s what drawing is all about: thinking through making. See how Pennell uses all these marks to give a sense of the hugeness of the ships and the yard where they’re being built? It's all about layers and textures. Tiny, scurrying lines for people. Big, bold strokes for the ships. The surface almost vibrates with energy. I’m drawn to the criss-crossed scaffolding at the front of the picture; there's a real sense of movement and direction in those marks. You know, this reminds me a bit of Piranesi's architectural etchings, with all those lines and that same feeling of being overwhelmed by a space. Art is a conversation, right? This is Pennell's contribution.