Magnificent Kensington 1904

Joseph Pennell made this artwork of Kensington with delicate marks that feel almost whispered onto the paper. Imagine him, maybe on a chilly London morning, trying to capture the grandeur but also the fleeting feeling of the scene. Look at how he builds the building. It's a mesh of lines, a bit like scaffolding, not quite solid but full of potential. The clouds feel provisional, like thoughts drifting by. It makes me wonder, was he sure what he wanted to say with this piece? I can see Pennell's earlier architectural interests in his mark-making here, but I’m also reminded of Whistler and his atmospheric works, all about mood and suggestion rather than rigid detail. Each artist conversing and pushing the boundaries, not afraid to leave things open to interpretation. Like this one where, the city breathes, it’s alive, and we are invited to feel its pulse.