Hail America 1908

Joseph Pennell made this etching, "Hail America," with ink on paper. Look closely, and you’ll see that Pennell’s mark-making feels almost frantic. It’s a blizzard of tiny, etched lines. The whole image is essentially grayscale; it’s not about color but about a whole range of inky blacks and grays. The sky is like a scratched-up chalkboard, all nervous energy. And then there’s the Statue of Liberty, standing tall amidst all this turmoil. See that dense hatching around the statue? It almost feels protective, like a shield against the storm. Pennell was known for his cityscapes, and he often played with these kinds of dramatic contrasts. You could compare this piece to some of Whistler’s nocturnal scenes, or maybe even some of Piranesi's etchings. It reminds us that art doesn't always have to spell things out; it can be a feeling, a question, a mood.