Artwork
Violet and Silver—The Deep Sea
Violet and Silver—The Deep Sea is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Accession no.
- 84088
- Credit line
- Gift of Clara Margaret Lynch in memory of John A. Lynch
About this work
Overview
Violet and Silver, The Deep Sea is a large oil-on-canvas painting by James McNeill Whistler, capturing a seascape off the coast of Brittany, France.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a serene ocean scene under a cloudy sky, dominated by blues, grays, and violet hues, evoking the changing moods of the sea.
Technique & Style
Whistler's use of loose, expressive brushstrokes and thick impasto paint creates a textured, dynamic representation of the sea and sky, emphasizing the visual and tactile qualities of the scene.
History & Provenance
After a period of working on smaller seascapes, Whistler returned to a larger canvas for this work, likely painting it while boating off the Breton coast.
Own this work as a print
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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