The Tracks, Chicago
1910
Medium
Etching on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image/plate: 23.3 × 30.9 cm (9 3/16 × 12 3/16 in.); Sheet: 28.7 × 43 cm (11 5/16 × 16 15/16 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
104183
Art Historical Context
Joseph Pennell's *The Tracks, Chicago* (1910) captures the raw energy of early 20th-century America through a masterful etching, showcasing the artist's fascination with industrial might and urban transformation. Pennell, a leading figure in the American etching revival, was renowned for his dramatic depictions of railroads, bridges, and cityscapes, often emphasizing their monumental scale and atmospheric drama. This print, housed in the Art Institute of's Prints and Drawings department likely portrays Chicago's sprawling rail yards—a vital hub of the nation's booming transportation network du...
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 ...