1917
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Boat Builders is a 1917 ink by Joseph Pennell, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a busy shipyard scene with workers bent over long wooden planks. Some are hammering or sawing, while others sit resting. In the background, a half-built ship sits on the water, with more people standing on its deck. The drawing is loose and quick, full of rough lines and shading. The artist used a scratchy, sketchy style—almost like a hurried notebook doodle. This was made in 1917 as a lithograph, which means the image was drawn on a smooth stone and then printed. Check out how lithography works next.
Joseph Pennell (July 4, 1857 – April 23, 1926) was an American draftsman, etcher, lithographer, and illustrator for books and magazines.
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