Artwork
Battleship Coming Home
Battleship Coming Home is an ink print by Joseph Pennell. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1917, this lithographic print portrays a bustling harbor where a large warship is making its way toward the shoreline.
About this work
The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show movement and activity, giving it a rough, hurried feel.
This sketch shows a busy harbor scene with a large ship sailing toward the shore. The water is dotted with smaller boats, and a bridge stretches across the background. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show movement and activity, giving it a rough, hurried feel.
The signature notes this was made in 1917, likely during wartime. The ships and boats suggest a bustling port, maybe preparing for or returning from service.
Want to see more by this artist? Try Pennell, Joseph.
Overview
Created in 1917, this lithographic print portrays a bustling harbor where a large warship is making its way toward the shoreline. The composition is filled with smaller vessels and a distant bridge, conveying the atmosphere of an active port during a period of military mobilization.
Subject & Meaning
The central focus is a battleship returning to a civilian dock, surrounded by a fleet of modest craft that suggest commercial or auxiliary activity. The juxtaposition of the formidable war vessel with everyday maritime traffic hints at the transition between wartime operations and peacetime commerce, reflecting the broader societal shift of the era.
Technique & Style
Pennell employs swift, sketch‑like lines characteristic of his lithographic practice, emphasizing movement and the kinetic energy of the scene. The rendering is deliberately rough, with minimal shading, allowing the viewer to sense the immediacy of a moment captured on the printing stone rather than a polished studio rendering.
History & Provenance
The work was produced by American printmaker Joseph Pennell, an artist renowned for his industrial and architectural subjects. Executed during the First World War, the lithograph aligns with Pennell’s broader output that documented contemporary infrastructure. It remains attributed to his 1917 output, a year when his prints often reflected wartime themes.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Pennell (July 4, 1857 – April 23, 1926) was an American draftsman, etcher, lithographer, and illustrator for books and magazines.
