Broad Street by Joseph Pennell

This is an etching by noted American etcher Joseph Pennell. It is titled Broad Street and is from his Philadelphia set that was created in 1920. Pennell's favorite subject matter was cities and architecture. He traveled extensively in the United States and Europe and was a prolific artist. He was originally from Philadelphia, so it's not surprising that he created a set of images from his home city. This piece places the viewer in the middle of Broad Street looking towards the tower of City Hall which is framed by the buildings along the street. Pennell creates the sense of distance and haze (probably due to auto exhaust) by rendering the tower much lighter than the foreground buildings. It demonstrates his mastery of the medium. It's a fine work and is held by many museums including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Library of Congress, and the National Gallery of Art. The piece is in very good condition for being over 100 years old. It is on a full sheet that has possibly been trimmed, but not affecting the image. It is hinge taped 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 8 x 10 inches and the sheet size is 8.75 x 13.5 inches. It is pencil signed J Pennell imp.. 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)

Size: 1920
Price: $275
Size: 8.75 x 13.5 inches
Plate Size: 8 x 10 inches
Condition: Very Good
Medium: Etching
Subject: Architecture & Cityscape

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