1903
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Rainy Night, Charing Cross Shops is a 1903 ink by Joseph Pennell, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a dim, rainy street at night. Buildings lean close together, their windows glowing faintly. Rain streaks blur the scene, turning everything into soft, dark shapes. A few people huddle under umbrellas or rush along the sidewalk, barely visible. The artist used sharp lines and heavy shading to make the wet streets and buildings feel almost textured. The rain isn’t just shown—it’s *felt* in the way the lines slant and blur. This is an etching, so the artist scratched into a metal plate to create the image.
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
