1910
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Building a Power House is a 1910 ink by Joseph Pennell, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a busy construction site with lots of wooden beams, cranes, and half-built structures. The lines are rough and fast, like quick notes capturing the chaos. A river runs through the middle, and in the background, a bridge and distant buildings fade into the sketchy horizon. The artist didn’t smooth out the details—it looks like they were working fast, maybe even on the spot. The focus is on the raw energy of building something big, not on perfect lines. Next, check out lithography to see how this print was made.
Joseph Pennell (July 4, 1857 – April 23, 1926) was an American draftsman, etcher, lithographer, and illustrator for books and magazines.
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