Little Arthur
1858
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1858
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Little Arthur is a 1858 ink by James McNeill Whistler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a boy sitting on a bench, wrapped in a thick coat. His legs are crossed, and he holds something small in his hands. The lines around him are loose and scratchy, almost like quick scribbles. The artist used a technique that leaves rough, textured marks—this isn’t smooth paint but sharp lines pressed into the paper. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this create layered textures.
