Valley of Desolation
1910
Medium
lithograph
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.7298
Art Historical Context
Behold the dramatic *Valley of Desolation*1910), a masterful lithograph by American artist Joseph Pennell (7–1926). Part of the esteemed Rosenwald Collection in the National Gallery of Art Department of Prints (CG-W), this work captures Pennell's signature flair for bold, atmospheric landscapes. Lithography, the medium here, was a revolutionary 19th-century technique Pennell elevated to fine art: artists drew directly on limestone with greasy crayons, allowing for rich tonal gradations and intricate details that mimicked drawing while enabling multiple impressions. Pennell, a leading figure i...
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 ...