Artwork
Le Boulevard Poissoniere
Le Boulevard Poissoniere is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:Not signed. Not dated. "c 3879" verso, lower center sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "c. 7456" verso, lower center sheet, graphite, unknown hand.
- Markings
- Marked:"LRJ" verso, black stamped ink, stamped twice. "National Gallery of Art" verso, black stamped ink.
About this work
Overview
Le Boulevard Poissoniere is an etching on laid paper created by James McNeill Whistler in 1893. It depicts a Parisian street scene with a mix of everyday activities and architectural details.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a busy street scene, with people engaged in various activities and old, worn buildings in the background. The image conveys a sense of observational clarity, focusing on the mundane aspects of urban life.
Technique & Style
Whistler employed the etching technique, scratching lines into a metal plate to create the image. The resulting print features fine, delicate lines and subtle tonal contrasts, characteristic of Whistler's style and the Aesthetic Movement's emphasis on refined detail.
History & Provenance
Whistler, an American expatriate, worked primarily in the United Kingdom during the late 19th century. Le Boulevard Poissoniere is a product of his mature period, reflecting his established approach to composition and printmaking.
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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