Artwork
Making a Turbine Engine
Making a Turbine Engine is an ink print by Joseph Pennell. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Making a Turbine Engine is a 1917 lithograph by Joseph Pennell, capturing a dynamic industrial scene of a workshop engaged in the assembly or repair of a central turbine engine, surrounded by machinery, tools, and workers.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph reflects Pennell's fascination with industrial and mechanical subjects, offering a glimpse into early 20th-century manufacturing processes and the human labor driving technological advancement.
Technique & Style
Pennell employed loose, quick, and rough lines in this lithograph, characteristic of his sketchy approach, to convey the energetic and bustling atmosphere of the crowded workshop.
History & Provenance
Created in 1917 by American artist Joseph Pennell, who worked predominantly in Europe, this piece is part of his broader oeuvre of detailed industrial and architectural renderings.
Context
Pennell's work was influenced by his training under James Lambdin and Thomas Eakins, later by James McNeill Whistler, and collaboratively with his wife Elizabeth Robins, situating his practice within both American and European artistic circles.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of Making a Turbine Engine are not provided, Pennell's overall body of work contributes to the early 20th-century documentation of industrial evolution through art.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Pennell (July 4, 1857 – April 23, 1926) was an American draftsman, etcher, lithographer, and illustrator for books and magazines.
