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Hail America, by Joseph Pennell, ink, 1908

Hail America

Joseph Pennell

1908

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Dominant colour

Overview

Hail America is a 1908 ink by Joseph Pennell, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?
Joseph Pennell
When & what style?
1908
Where can I see it?
National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows a dark, moody harbor scene with a tall statue on a pedestal in the background. To the right, a ship with three masts sits near the dock, its sails furled. The sky is heavy with clouds, and the water looks still, almost like ink. The artist used deep shadows and soft edges to make the scene feel dramatic. The statue looks like a famous landmark, but the artist left out bright colors, focusing on light and dark instead. Want to see more? Check out chiaroscuro to learn how artists use light and shadow like this.

About the artist

Portrait of Joseph Pennell
Artist

Joseph Pennell

Joseph Pennell (July 4, 1857 – April 23, 1926) was an American draftsman, etcher, lithographer, and illustrator for books and magazines.

See the richer artist page

More by Joseph Pennell

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