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JOSEPH PENNELL

1857 - 1926

PICTURES OF THE WONDER OF WORK 1916 - PICTURES
PICTURES OF THE WONDER OF WORK 1916 - TEXT
WASHINGTON IRVING'S ALHAMBRA, 12 LITHOGRAPHS 1896
WASHINGTON IRVING'S ALHAMBRA, SPECIMEN DOUBLE PAGES 1896
HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS OF EAST ANGLIA 1901
A LITLE BOOK OF LONDON 1911, images and texts 1901

 

ETCHING AND ETCHERS, 1936

 

The Coming Illustration, Imprint, 1913

 

Pictures of War Work in England 1917
The Liberty Loan Poster
PICTURES OF PHILADELPHIA 1914 1926
illustration of trees from Ellwood

Pennell was born in Philadelphia where he was trained before making the European trip to learn and draw. In 1884 he settled in the UK which became his working base. He wrote extensively, not least about his master J.M.Whistler whose 2 volume biography (1906) he undertook together with his wife, Elizabeth. When attracted to unusual subjects he was at his inventive best. But he was too prolific, reaching too often for the genteel and picturesque subject with a shallow vignetted approach. He is at his best in the illustrations to Walter Besant's East End of London, and in the War Work in England. He doesn't really thrive on modernity but keeps one cautious foot in the print making conventions.

 

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