Calle Mayor Alcalá c. 1903

Joseph Pennell made this print of Calle Mayor Alcalá with a pretty dark palette in black ink. I imagine him outside, sitting and sketching the street in front of him, trying to capture the light. You can feel that the buildings on the right are hit by sunlight, and that the left side of the street is mostly in shadow. It makes me wonder what it was like to be Pennell, an American artist visiting Spain, and trying to portray the country. It's a busy street; he captures the figures, carts, and horses, giving a glimpse into daily life there. He reminds me a little bit of Whistler; he was also interested in printmaking and capturing impressions of places and urban life. Painters, printmakers, we’re always in conversation. The interesting thing is the feeling and intention each artist brings to their work. There are so many different ways of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world.