The Bridge of Alcantara, Toledo 1904

Joseph Pennell made this etching, The Bridge of Alcantara, Toledo, sometime around the turn of the century. I love how the density of marks and shifting light create a strong sense of place. Looking at this piece, you can really feel Pennell digging into the surface of the plate. The layering of lines creates volume, darkness and shadow, giving the image a real sense of depth, and texture, without ever being overly descriptive. Take a look at the tower, the way Pennell contrasts it with the bridge, which dissolves into the mountains in the background. The bridge becomes almost ghost-like, while the tower is resolutely in the here and now, casting its shadow over the landscape. Pennell was a contemporary of Whistler and like Whistler, he was deeply interested in the possibilities of etching as a medium. But where Whistler was more concerned with atmosphere, Pennell had a real passion for architecture. It’s this combination that makes his work so unique, he shows us the beauty of form and structure, while at the same time, evoking a very particular emotional response.