The Bridges, from Brooklyn by Joseph Pennell
This is an etching by noted American etcher Joseph Pennell. It is titled The Bridges, from Brooklyn and was created in 1921. Pennell's favorite subject matter was cities and architecture. He traveled extensively in the United States and Europe and was a prolific artist. This piece uses an unusual perspective in that the artist is below the level of the bridges, hence only a portion of each bridge is visible. However, it provides a wonderful view into how the bridges were a part of the buildings of the city. He is a master at using light and shadow (chiaroscuro), and also incorporates negative space in the upper left and lower right to frame the image. This is very reminiscent of his friend Whistler. It's one of his better known works and is held by many museums including The National Gallery of Art, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The piece is in pristine condition for being over 100 years old. It is on an untrimmed sheet hinged mounted to an archival mat board. It is well struck and crisp with rich ink. There are no condition issues including no paper loss, tears, stains, foxing, or fading. The plate size is just a shade under 7 by 10 inches and the sheet size is 8.375 x 11.75 inches. It is signed in the plate lower center. (Pennell did not pencil sign all of works). A fine etching by this iconic American artist.
Joseph Pennell (1860-1926) Pennell was born in Philadelphia and studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Much of his time was spent in Europe, particularly in London, where he was greatly influenced by Whistler. His subjects are chiefly landscapes and architectural views, and his art is distinguished for its simplicity, technical perfection, and illustrative quality.
Pennell began his career as an illustrator. Following his marriage Pennell settled in London where he became friends with Robert Louis Stevenson, George Bernard Shaw and James Whistler. In the late 1880s, he was art critic of the Star newspaper. Following in the footsteps of Whistler and such French lithographers as Toulouse-Lautrec, Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen and Odilon Redon, Pennell began experimenting with lithography. Pennell, like Whistler, was on the executive committee of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, and was put in charge of the hanging of prints for their first exhibition in 1898.
Pennell was known for his outspokenness and deep-seated convictions. According to Hartrick, 'It is a great mistake to believe that Pennell kow-towed to Whistler and was a mere echo of his opinions. He had a sincere admiration for his talent as an artist and was influenced in his own work by his technique in etching, but he held his own end up always'.
He is represented by etchings, drawings, and lithographs in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh; and Brooklyn Museum, N.Y. Pennell was a member (1909) of the National Academy of Design and of numerous European societies and was a lecturer on illustration at the Slade School of Art, London, and the Royal College of Art, South Kensington. (From AllRefer.com and the Center for Whistler Studies, Glasgow)
Price: $275
Size: 8.375 x 11.75 inches
Plate Size: 7 x 10 inches
Condition: Pristine
Medium: Etching
Subject: Architecture & Cityscape
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