Westminster, Evening 1909

Joseph Pennell made this atmospheric print of Westminster at night using etching and drypoint. The tones are so dark, like a midnight snack of bittersweet chocolate. The image is built from a dense network of tiny lines. Pennell uses these to create a palpable sense of texture, almost like velvet. In the river, you can see the reflections of the city lights. They're not perfect reflections, they’re more like broken, shimmering gestures. I love how the ink catches on the rough surface of the plate, creating a sort of halo around each light. For me, this piece has a kinship with the work of Whistler, especially his Nocturnes. Both artists were interested in capturing the ephemeral qualities of light and atmosphere. But where Whistler's paintings often dissolve into abstraction, Pennell's print retains a stronger sense of place. It reminds us that art is always a conversation, an ongoing dialogue between artists across time.