Little Arthur
1858
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1858
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white etching of a young boy with messy hair and a serious look. He’s wearing a dark, textured coat that covers most of his body. The lines around him are loose and scratchy, giving the image a rough, almost sketchy feel. The artist used a technique that lets ink fill in the etched lines, making the dark areas stand out. This was a way to create depth without color. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Whistler made prints like this.
