Artwork
Changing Shifts, Charleroi
Changing Shifts, Charleroi is an ink print by Joseph Pennell. It dates from 1911 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Changing Shifts, Charleroi is a 1911 lithograph by Joseph Pennell, capturing a moment of industrial activity in Charleroi, Belgium. The work showcases Pennell's focus on urban and industrial landscapes, characteristic of his European period.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph highlights the daily life of industrial workers, with small, foreground figures set against the imposing backdrop of a factory. This composition emphasizes the human element within the industrial era's vast, dominating environments.
Technique & Style
Pennell, trained by James Lambdin and Thomas Eakins, and later influenced by James McNeill Whistler, employs lithography to create a stark, dark scene. The contrast between the detailed, looming factory and the diminutive workers reflects his skill in capturing industrial landscapes through printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created in 1911, the work is part of Pennell's European output, marking his observation of industrial life in Belgium. Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
Changing Shifts, Charleroi reflects the early 20th-century industrial landscape, a common subject among artists documenting the era's societal and environmental transformations.
Legacy
As part of Pennell's industrial-themed works, Changing Shifts, Charleroi contributes to the broader artistic record of the industrial age, though its individual impact within Pennell's oeuvre is not distinctly highlighted.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Pennell (July 4, 1857 – April 23, 1926) was an American draftsman, etcher, lithographer, and illustrator for books and magazines.
