Traitors Gate from the River c. 1901

Editor: This is Joseph Pennell's "Traitors Gate from the River," date unknown. It's a black and white print, and the composition feels very deliberate, almost architectural. What do you notice about its structure? Curator: Indeed. Consider how Pennell employs line: its density in the foreground boats versus the sparser rendering of the Tower itself. The texture created directs the eye. Do you see how the strong verticals of the pilings contrast with the horizontality of the river? Editor: Yes, it creates a kind of push and pull, a tension between the foreground and background. It’s quite effective. I see that Pennell is interested in how the formal elements create meaning. Curator: Precisely.