Trouville (Grey and Green, the Silver Sea)
1865
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1865
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
You see a quiet beach at dusk: gray sky, silver water, a few pale boats. Whistler painted this in France with his friend Gustave Courbet. He left out people and waves, focusing only on color and shape. The high horizon and flat areas feel like Japanese woodblock prints he loved. To see how he stripped scenes even thinner, look up *glazing* next.
