1878
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A Sketch from Billingsgate is a 1878 ink by James McNeill Whistler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a busy harbor with ships of different sizes. The lines are loose and quick, like hurried notes. The water looks choppy, and the boats are packed close together. The artist used a drypoint tool to scratch into the paper, creating a sketchy, almost sketch-like feel. It’s less about detail and more about capturing the energy of the place. Next, look up drypoint to see how this technique works.
James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
