Artwork
The Toilet
The Toilet is a print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1863 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1924.45
- Credit line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph King
About this work
Overview
The Toilet is a print by James McNeill Whistler, created in 1863. It is a sketch of a woman engaged in a mundane activity, and is now held at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a woman sitting and brushing her hair, capturing a quiet moment of daily life. The title The Toilet suggests an intimate, everyday scene rather than a grand or formal one.
Technique & Style
The sketch is characterized by loose, quick lines and extensive cross-hatching, which creates shading and texture, particularly in the subject's clothing. The presence of smudges and stray marks on the paper suggests a rapid working process.
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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