1920
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Square, Independence Square, Philadelphia is a 1920 ink by Joseph Pennell, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a tall clock tower in the middle of a wide, open square. Trees with bare branches frame the scene on both sides, and a few small figures walk near the base of the tower. The ground is drawn with quick, uneven lines, and the whole image has a grainy, textured look. The artist used a method that scratches into the metal plate to create the lines—this makes the dark areas pop. The clock tower looks like it’s from a real city, but the drawing feels loose and quick, almost like a sketchbook page. Next, look up etching to see how this technique works.
Joseph Pennell (July 4, 1857 – April 23, 1926) was an American draftsman, etcher, lithographer, and illustrator for books and magazines.
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