1917
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Forging Shells, The Slaves of the Wheel is a 1917 ink by Joseph Pennell, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a dark, crowded room with people bent over a large wheel. The wheel looks like it’s being used to shape metal, and the people around it are working hard. In the background, there’s a window with bars, and the walls feel heavy and rough. The artist used a rough, sketchy style that makes the scene feel urgent and gritty. The lighting is dim, focusing on the workers and the wheel. Next, look up 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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