The Shops at Night, Changing Shifts
1916
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1916
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Shops at Night, Changing Shifts is a 1916 ink by Joseph Pennell, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a quiet street scene at night. A lamppost stands in the middle, casting a faint glow. Buildings line both sides—one side has a dark storefront, while the other shows a lit window with a faint outline of people inside. The sky is black, and the ground looks wet, like rain just stopped. The artist used rough, scratchy lines to create shadows and textures, almost like a sketch. The light from the lamppost is the only bright spot, making the rest feel mysterious. If you like this style, look up lithography to see how artists create prints this way.
