Joseph Pennell, Brooklyn Bridge at Night, 1922, aquatint on paper, 7 3/8 in. x 8 7/8 in. (18.8 cm. x 22.6 cm.), Joseph Pennell began his career as an illustrator in the United States, but he moved to London following his 1884 marriage to writer Elizabeth Robbins Pennell. There, Pennell was inspired by the avant-garde artist James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) to experiment with different etching techniques and lithographic processes. After years abroad, the Pennells settled in Brooklyn Heights in 1921. Their apartment afforded magnificent views of New York City, its bridges, and its waterways, which became regular subjects of Pennell's art and allowed him to apply the techniques he had honed abroad. Pennell achieved the dark, shadowy effects of this print with aquatint, an etching technique in which the picture is conceived in tone rather than line. Aquatint uses a plate coated with a porous, grainy ground. During the bath, acid bites the underlying metal around the tiny grains, thus creating a subtly patterned area that appears as a tonal wash. Varying the bath time for different sections of the plate results in darker or lighter tones. As a teacher at the Arts Students League, Pennell taught a new generation of artists to creatively experiment with different print techniques in order to create their own renderings of New York City.
Keywords:
Joseph Pennell, Brooklyn Bridge, Night, 1922, aquatint, paper, 7 3/8 . x 8 7/8, 18.8 cm. x 22.6 cm., Joseph Pennell began, career, illustrator, United States, moved, London following, 1884 marriage, writer Elizabeth Robbins Pennell., Pennell, inspired, avant-garde artist James McNeill Whistler, 1834-1903, experiment, different etching techniques, lithographic processes., years abroad, Pennells settled, Brooklyn Heights, 1921., apartment afforded magnificent views, New York City, bridges, waterways, regular subjects, Pennell's art, allowed, apply, techniques, honed abroad. Pennell achieved, dark, shadowy effects, print, aquatint, etching technique, picture, conceived, tone, line. Aquatint uses, plate coated, porous, grainy ground., bath, acid bites, underlying metal, tiny grains, thus creating, subtly patterned area, tonal wash. Varying, bath time, different sections, plate results, darker, lighter tones., teacher, Arts Students League, Pennell taught, new generation, artists, creatively experiment, different print techniques, order, create, own renderings, New York City
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