A close friend of James McNeill Whistler, Joseph Pennell (1857?1926) was an American etcher, lithographer, and illustrator. He was the author of numerous books on Fine Art and Art Instruction, many in collaboration with his wife, Elizabeth Robins Pennell. He is also remembered for his poster That Liberty Shall Not Perish from the Earth, created for the Liberty Loans campaign of 1918.

In this comprehensive study of the art of drawing with a pen, artist and author Joseph Pennell highlights his opinionated "technical suggestions" with more than 400 illustrations by 250 famous artists, including Titian, Dürer, Rembrandt, Rodin, Manet, Renoir, Beardsley, Pyle, Hiroshige, van Gogh, Rackham, and other masters from around the globe. Each of the high-quality reproductions is accompanied by a critique of its style and execution and occasional comparisons to the artist's other works and those of contemporaries.
Featured images range from landscapes by Titian, Rembrandt, and Corot to figure studies by Dürer, Goya, and Rodin and portraits by Manet and Matisse. The tremendous variety of subjects extends to street scenes by Toulouse Lautrec and van Gogh, episodes from literature envisioned by Rossetti, Burne-Jones, and Millais, and decorations by Crane and Morris. A visual treasure trove and valuable reference, this volume will serve as an enduring source of instruction and inspiration for artists of all skill levels.