San Biagio
1880
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1880
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
San Biagio is a 1880 ink by James McNeill Whistler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a busy riverside scene with a large, crumbling stone bridge in the center. Below it, two small boats float on the water—one with a few people inside. The buildings on either side of the bridge look old and weathered, with arched doorways and uneven walls. The whole drawing is made with quick, sketchy lines that give it a rough, almost unfinished look. The artist used a technique called drypoint to create deep, textured lines that hold a lot of ink. This makes the sketch feel both detailed and a little messy, like a quick study rather than a polished work. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists use acid and needles to make prints like this.
