Building a Power House

1910

Joseph Pennell

Associated Names
Joseph Pennell

Artist, American, 1857 - 1926

The image shows an elevated view of a construction site next to a river. In the distance are notable natural and urban features, including a city skyline and a waterfall. The composition has a high horizon line, and the artist uses loose, expressive lines to convey energy. The color palette is monochromatic, in shades of black and gray, creating contrast. The construction area is detailed with scaffolding and work elements, the river flows toward the waterfall, and the background shows a skyline blending into the horizon under a cloudy sky.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
On View

West Building Main Floor, Gallery M72

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    lithograph

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 44.4 × 28.7 cm (17 1/2 × 11 5/16 in.)
    sheet: 47.6 × 31.7 cm (18 3/4 × 12 1/2 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.6976

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Wuerth 1931, no. 177

  • Series Title

    Niagara Falls

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b); gift to National Gallery of Art, 1943.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1931

  • Wuerth, Louis A. Catalogue of the Lithographs of Joseph Pennell. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1931.

Inscriptions

lower left, in stone: JPennell / NIagara / 10. 1910; lower left, below image, in graphite: K 5958 (P.144); lower center, below image, in graphite: JPennell [artist's signature]; lower right, below image, in graphite: Building Power House Canadian Side A. 938 Niagara; verso, lower center, in graphite: Building a Power House / Canadian Side / NIagara

Markings

verso, stamped in black ink: National Gallery of Art, Rosenwald Collection (Lugt 1932d); stamped in black ink: Rosenwald stamp (Lugt 1760b)

Wikidata ID

Q65022675

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