The Square, Independence Square, Philadelphia
1920
Medium
etching
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.6779
Art Historical Context
Step into the heart of American history with Joseph Pennell's *The Square, Independence Square, Philadelphia* (1920), a masterful etching that captures the timeless grandeur of this iconic Philadelphia landmark. Pennell, a leading figure in the American etching revival of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was renowned for his dynamic depictions of urban architecture and landscapes. Here, he immortalizes Independence Square—home to Independence Hall, the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence—evoking the nation's revolutionary spirit amid the post-World War I era. Created as an in...
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 ...