Artwork
From Fulton Street
From Fulton Street is an ink print by Joseph Pennell. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1910, *From Fulton Street* is a lithographic print by American artist Joseph Pennell. The work captures a bustling urban thoroughfare, rendered in a loose, gestural manner that emphasizes the density of the built environment. It reflects Pennell’s interest in documenting contemporary city life through printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a crowded street scene dominated by a row of towering structures whose pointed rooftops pierce the sky. Pedestrians appear as diminutive silhouettes, suggesting the overwhelming scale of the architecture and the ceaseless flow of urban activity. The sketch conveys a sense of motion and the anonymity of city dwellers.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the image relies on swift, expressive lines that blur the edges of the buildings and street surface. The rough, almost fuzzy rendering creates a texture reminiscent of rain‑slicked pavement or dust, reinforcing the impression of a hurried, ever‑changing metropolis. Pennell’s approach aligns with the spontaneous qualities of early 20th‑century printmaking.
History & Provenance
Joseph Pennell, trained under James Lambdin and Thomas Eakins, spent much of his professional life in Europe but maintained a strong connection to American artistic currents. Influenced by James McNeill Whistler, he frequently produced prints of landmarks and cityscapes, of which *From Fulton Street* is a representative example of his transatlantic perspective.
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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.
