Mist on the Thames 1903

Joseph Pennell made this etching of the Thames in 1897, and the way he handles tone and texture really pulls me in. It’s all about the process, right? The way the ink grabs onto the paper, creating this hazy, dreamlike atmosphere. Look at how he’s built up the image with layers of soft, smudgy marks. The buildings and bridge in the background almost dissolve into the mist, while the boats in the foreground have a bit more definition. There’s a real sense of depth, even though the palette is so limited. The dark, velvety blacks and grays give it this moody, atmospheric quality. Notice the marks in the water, how they seem to ripple and reflect the light. It’s like he’s captured a fleeting moment, a transient feeling, on paper. This work reminds me a little of Whistler's etchings, with that same emphasis on atmosphere and tone. But Pennell brings his own sensibility to it, a kind of gritty realism mixed with a touch of romanticism.