1880
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Long Lagoon is a 1880 ink by James McNeill Whistler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a long, narrow body of water with a few trees and buildings in the distance. The lines are loose and quick, like a quick pencil sketch. The water looks calm, with just a few wavy lines to show movement. The artist used a technique that lets them scratch into the metal plate to make marks. This makes the lines sharp and detailed, even though the whole scene feels simple. Try looking up etching to see how this process works.
James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom.
See the richer artist page
