Nocturne: Salute
1880
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1880
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Nocturne: Salute is a 1880 ink by James McNeill Whistler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a dark, hazy cityscape at night. A few faint buildings stand out against the dim background, with one dome-shaped structure in the center. The rest is mostly empty space, with just a few scattered lines and shapes—like a ship or two—drawn lightly. The artist used quick, scratchy lines to suggest movement and light. The paper has a textured, aged look, which makes the brown ink stand out. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made prints with needles.
