Artwork
The Forge, Passage du Dragon
The Forge, Passage du Dragon is a print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1979.94
- Credit line
- Lawrence Hitchcock Fund
About this work
Overview
James McNeill Whistler’s 1894 print titled The Forge, Passage du Dragon is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The work depicts an interior space dominated by deep shadows, with a vaulted ceiling, a broad opening in the front wall, and a high window set into the rear wall.
Subject & Meaning
Within the dimly lit interior, a few indistinct figures occupy the space, either standing or seated, their forms barely discernible against the darkness. The composition’s limited illumination and enclosed architecture create an atmosphere of quiet mystery, inviting contemplation of the unseen activities within the forge.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print, the image relies on a restrained palette of dark tones to convey depth and volume. Whistler’s handling of light and shadow reflects his interest in tonal harmony, a concern that aligns with the broader aesthetic explorations of late‑19th‑century Impressionism, though the work remains firmly rooted in his own tonal approach.
History & Provenance
Created in 1894, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its presence in the museum’s collection provides scholars and visitors with an example of Whistler’s late‑period printmaking and his continued engagement with atmospheric interior scenes.
Artist & collection
Artist
James Abbott McNeill Whistler (; July 10, 1834 – July 17, 1903) was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom.
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