Nocturne
1880
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1880
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Nocturne is a 1880 ink by James McNeill Whistler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a quiet harbor scene at night. A few ships sit still in the water, their masts and sails barely visible in the dim light. The shore has a line of buildings, their shapes fuzzy and indistinct, blending into the darkness. The artist used a scratchy, textured style to create depth—almost like drawing with a needle. The paper has a slightly yellowed, aged look, which makes the scene feel old. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Whistler made prints this way.
