Grey and Silver: Old Battersea Reach
1863
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1863
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
You see a foggy riverbank at dusk—barges, smokestacks, and a few figures moving in the gray light. Whistler painted this while living in London, where the Thames was crowded with industry. Instead of bright colors, he used soft grays and browns to blend everything together. The thick, rough brushstrokes make the scene feel alive, like the air itself is damp and heavy. If you like how light and mood work here, look up *impasto*—the way paint is piled on thick to create texture.
