In the words of the artist, the "glorification of Work" is an important part of Joseph Pennell's vision of Pittsburgh, No II. He evokes this theme in the etching through
a) the sight of distant skyscrapers through the smoke.
b) the size and number of river boats working the river.
c) the smudged greys and neutrals symbolizing the dirty but productive world of labor.
d) the inclusion of workers' houses clustered in the foreground.