1887
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Bird-Cages Chelsea is a 1887 ink by James McNeill Whistler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a busy street scene with two-story buildings packed with windows. Some windows have signs like "W. Jones" and "Amber." People are walking or sitting outside, and one person is pushing a cart. The drawing is loose and quick, with lots of cross-hatching to show shadows and details. The artist focused on everyday life in a shop-lined street, using simple lines to capture the mood. The rough texture of the paper and the scratchy marks suggest this was made fast, maybe from memory or a quick glance. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Whistler used acid and needles to create these detailed, textured prints.
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 →
