Who painted Lobster-Pots?

Lobster-Pots was painted by James McNeill Whistler in 1880.

Where can I see Lobster-Pots?

Lobster-Pots is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Lobster-Pots?

Lobster-Pots is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Lobster-Pots?

Museum-quality prints of Lobster-Pots are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Lobster-Pots

James McNeill Whistler , 1880

Lobster-Pots is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:on plate: (butterfly); on tab: (butterfly) imp; on the verso: upper left: 406; at center: 14; lower right: 73 [or 75]

About this work

Overview

Lobster-Pots is an etching and drypoint print created by James McNeill Whistler around 1880, exemplifying his concurrent exploration of printmaking alongside oil and watercolor works.

Subject & Meaning

The print focuses on a humble, everyday subject: a row of stacked lobster pots along a shoreline. The composition also includes faint suggestions of a boat and buildings in the background, emphasizing the pots as the primary, albeit unassuming, focus.

Technique & Style

Characterized by delicate linework and subtle tonality, the print showcases Whistler's graphic sensibilities. The lobster pots are rendered with quick, wavy lines, imparting a rough, textured appearance, while the background elements are softly outlined, blending into the light.

History & Provenance

Created during Whistler's time as an American expatriate in Britain, Lobster-Pots aligns with the aesthetic ideals of the late 19th-century Aesthetic Movement and the 'art for art's sake' philosophy.

Context

Technically, the piece demonstrates etching and drypoint techniques, where the artist scratches designs onto a metal plate. The sketchy, on-the-spot feel reflects Whistler's ability to capture form and atmosphere with economy of line.

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Artist & collection

Artist

James McNeill Whistler

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.