1916
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Steel Bars for Shells is a 1916 ink by Joseph Pennell, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a busy factory floor packed with long steel bars stacked in rows. Workers in the lower left are carrying tools or parts, while overhead cranes and machinery loom above. The space feels cramped but organized, with beams and pipes crisscrossing the ceiling. The title *Steel Bars for Shells* hints this factory was making ammunition during World War I. The artist focused on the raw, industrial chaos—no smooth lines, just rough edges and heavy shadows. Want to see more of this artist’s work? Check out Pennell, Joseph.
Joseph Pennell (July 4, 1857 – April 23, 1926) was an American draftsman, etcher, lithographer, and illustrator for books and magazines.
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