Joseph Pennell

Happy Birthday Joseph Pennell!! We will celebrate America’s independence by taking a look at the work of this printmaker born in Philadelphia in 1857. Pennell was also an author, often working in collaboration with his wife Elizabeth Robbins Pennell. He was friends with Whistler and immigrated to England also. Pennell wrote Whistler’s biography, publishing it in 1908. He tackled a series of “municipal” subjects including the poster below designed for Liberty Loans, depicting the Statue of Liberty, her head rolling as New York City burns in the background, urging Americans to purchase US Bonds.