1923
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Lodgings for Gents is a 1923 ink by Joseph Pennell, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a tall, skinny building squeezed between older stone structures. The modern skyscraper has lots of small windows lined up in rows, while the buildings on either side have arched doorways and rough, textured walls. Shadows stretch across the street, and the whole scene looks like it was drawn quickly with a pencil or etching tool. The artist focused on how the new building clashes with the older ones, almost like a puzzle piece that doesn’t quite fit. The lines are sharp but messy, giving it a raw, unfinished feel. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists create these kinds of marks.
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
