1917
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Making Rifles is a 1917 ink by Joseph Pennell, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a crowded factory floor packed with long, wooden workbenches. Workers stand in rows, bending over machinery that looks like it’s stamping or shaping metal parts. The room is filled with tall windows letting in light, and the ceiling has exposed beams. Flags hang along the walls, and a few people stand near the back, watching the line. The artist focused on the busy, repetitive motion of the workers—no faces are clear, just hands and tools. The lines of the machines and benches create a grid pattern, making the space feel orderly despite the crowd. Next, check out how this was made using lithography.
Joseph Pennell (July 4, 1857 – April 23, 1926) was an American draftsman, etcher, lithographer, and illustrator for books and magazines.
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