Artwork
In the Land of Brobdingnag, the Armour Plate Bending Press
In the Land of Brobdingnag, the Armour Plate Bending Press is an ink print by Joseph Pennell. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work records a sprawling industrial workshop, dominated by a massive metal press, and populated with workers, tools, and a tangle of pipes.
Created in 1917, *In the Land of Brobdingnag, the Armour Plate Bending Press* is a lithographic print by American artist Joseph Pennell. The work records a sprawling industrial workshop, dominated by a massive metal press, and populated with workers, tools, and a tangle of pipes. Its dim lighting and dense composition convey the scale and complexity of early‑twentieth‑century manufacturing environments.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a single, imposing piece of machinery used for shaping armor plates, set amid a cluttered factory floor. By focusing on the press and the surrounding activity, Pennell emphasizes the mechanical power and labor that underpinned modern industry, offering a visual document of the technological processes that were reshaping society at the time.
Technique & Style
Pennell employed lithography, a planographic printmaking method that allows for a range of tonal values. His line work is loose and sketch‑like, with rough strokes that suggest movement and texture rather than precise detail. This approach gives the print the immediacy of a field study, highlighting the gritty atmosphere of the workshop.
History & Provenance
Pennell, a former student of James Lambdin and Thomas Eakins, later absorbed influences from James McNeill Whistler. Throughout his career he documented industrial sites, especially during his European travels. The print reflects his collaboration with his wife, writer Elizabeth Robins, and remains an example of his commitment to recording the built environment of the early 1900s.
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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.
