Standard Oil Works, Staten Island

A railway carries materials to and from the oil refineries on both sides of the river. New York is visible in the far distance. Like other leading printmakers of the day, Pennell was interested in industrial labour and construction processes. He never explored demolition subjects as he felt a tremendous sense of loss when a building was destroyed. This reflected his pacifist opinions on the Great War, which haunted him for many years and triggered his moved back to America in 1921.