Liberty Bell 1912

Joseph Pennell made this drawing of the Liberty Bell with what looks like a graphite pencil. I can almost see him there, hunkered over his paper, squinting at the light as it bounces off the bell. He must have been drawn to the way the light captures the rough texture of the metal, each stroke carefully placed, and how the bell sits in this elaborate hallway. The lines feel scratchy and quick like he didn't want to spend too much time on this, but each dark mark feels so deliberate! There's something about the way he captures the texture of the bell and the surrounding architecture, with the light and shadow playing off each other, that makes me think of Whistler. You know, that moody, atmospheric vibe? I feel like they're both part of this conversation about how to see and feel a space. Maybe, for Pennell, art-making was like a conversation between himself, the bell, and the history it represents.