The Bright Angel Trail
1912
Medium
lithograph
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.6804
Art Historical Context
Step into the dramatic vistas of the American Southwest with Joseph Pennell's *The Bright Angel Trail* (1912), a lithograph that captures the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon. Pennell, a master of the medium and a leading figure in American printmaking during the early 20th century, to Arizona to document this natural wonder. His work reflects the era's growing fascination with the American landscape, as the Grand Canyon—designated a national monument in 1908—drew artists, photographers, and adventurers eager to showcase its sublime beauty. Rendered in Pennell's signature lithographic technique, th...
About the Artist
Joseph Pennell · 1857–1926
Joseph Pennell (1857–1926) was born in Philadelphia to Quaker parents and displayed an early aptitude for drawing, finding solace in sketching amid a challenging childhood. He received initial drawing instruction from James R. Lambdin and his first etching lessons from Stephen Ferris in 1879. Pennell attended night classes at the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art before studying at ...