Entrance to Henry VII's Chapel, Westminster 1905

Joseph Pennell made this etching, "Entrance to Henry VII's Chapel, Westminster," in 1902. Pennell lays down a carpet of ink, pulling us into this dark space; it’s all about process, about the way that ink can create a whole world. The material itself seems to whisper stories. The texture, the deep blacks, the shallow grays—they're all part of the experience. Look closely and you'll see the scratchy lines, the uneven surfaces. There is a real sense of time and place here, enhanced by the limited palette, as if the color has been bleached away by history. Notice how the lines lead you into the darkness. Like you’re about to enter a secret passage, or perhaps the past itself. Pennell always seemed to be looking for some way to capture light and shadow, just as Whistler, the artist whom he idolized, did before him. It's like a conversation across time, a game of light and dark.