Lower Broadway 1904

Joseph Pennell made this etching of Lower Broadway sometime during his career, using ink and a metal plate. Pennell’s marks are so evocative, aren’t they? They remind me of the energy of making. You can see the lines of the buildings and the crowd of people below. It's like he’s captured the city's heartbeat! Look how the lines vary in thickness and pressure. Pennell isn't just drawing; he's carving, almost dancing, with his tool. The texture feels raw, like you could reach out and feel the grit of the city streets. The buildings loom above, yet the scene is light, airy, almost dreamlike. There's a sense of movement, the hustle and bustle of city life. Thinking about other artists who have captured cities, I'm reminded of the Ashcan School. They, too, found beauty in the everyday. But Pennell’s lines are more delicate. He’s not just documenting; he's interpreting, giving us a sense of the city as a place of endless possibility.