Artwork
Regent's Quadrant
Regent's Quadrant is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:on plate: (butterfly); on tab: (butterfly) imp; lower left on verso: c.7206 [?]; lower right on verso: C 22746 (underlined) / esx-
About this work
Overview
Regent's Quadrant is a print created by James McNeill Whistler in 1880 using etching and drypoint techniques on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a bustling city street scene with a prominent flagpole, lined with buildings and populated with pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages. The work prioritizes aesthetic qualities over narrative content, reflecting Whistler's 'art for art's sake' philosophy.
Technique & Style
Whistler employed etching and drypoint to achieve a range of line qualities, from sharp and defined to soft and expressive. The combination of these techniques allowed for varied tonal effects and textured surfaces, characteristic of his printmaking style.
Context
Created during Whistler's time in the United Kingdom, Regent's Quadrant showcases his ability to capture urban life with a focus on visual refinement and subtlety.
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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