Artwork
Reading by Lamplight
Reading by Lamplight is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right in plate: J. Whistler; upper center verso in graphite by unknown hand: R4440; lower left verso in graphite by unknown hand: B23018; lower right verso in graphite by unknown hand: NO.
About this work
Overview
Reading by Lamplight is an etching and drypoint print created by James McNeill Whistler in 1859. It depicts a quiet domestic scene at night.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows a woman seated by a lamp, engrossed in reading. The soft light illuminates her face, while the surrounding area is shrouded in shadow, conveying a sense of intimacy and contemplation.
Technique & Style
Whistler employed etching and drypoint techniques to achieve a delicate interplay of light and shadow. The use of a needle to scratch lines into a metal plate allowed for expressive and nuanced renderings.
History & Provenance
Created during Whistler's early period, Reading by Lamplight reflects his developing skill as a printmaker. The work is part of Whistler's oeuvre, with related prints held at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
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