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 quiet water scene with a distant shoreline. The horizon line is packed with faint buildings and trees, while the foreground is mostly empty water and a few loose strokes. The paper looks textured, and the lines are light, almost like they were drawn quickly. The artist used a technique called drypoint to scratch into the plate, creating fine, fuzzy lines. This method lets light and shadow play in a soft way, which fits the peaceful mood. Next, look 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
