Robert Barr

James McNeill Whistler

1894

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Portrait

About this work

This sketch shows a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat tilted forward, shading his face. His coat collar is turned up, and his hands rest in his pockets. The lines are loose and quick, like a hurried sketch. The artist used a technique called etching to create this portrait. The paper is brown, and the lines vary in thickness, giving it a textured look. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Whistler made prints with acid and metal plates.