Artwork
Little Evelyn
Little Evelyn is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Little Evelyn is a 1896 lithograph by James McNeill Whistler, created in black on laid paper. It is a print of a young girl, characterized by simplicity and restraint.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph depicts a child standing against a dark background, wearing a long, light-colored dress with a ruffled collar and cuffs. The girl's features and expression are rendered with sensitivity, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in a simple yet expressive style, with bold lines and minimal shading. Whistler's approach to lithography is marked by a preference for delicate, unadorned imagery, avoiding overt sentimentality.
Context
Whistler, an American artist working primarily in the United Kingdom, was a proponent of 'art for art's sake.' His prints, including Little Evelyn, reflect this principle, prioritizing aesthetic considerations over emotional or narrative content.
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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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