1859
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Thames Police is a 1859 ink by James McNeill Whistler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a busy riverside scene with ships docked along a crowded wharf. Buildings line the shore, some with signs like "Times Police" and "Wapping Wharf." People walk along the docks, and the water is full of boats tied up close together. The drawing is all in black, with quick, sketchy lines that give a sense of movement and activity. The artist used a technique called drypoint to create fine, detailed lines. This method lets them press deeply into the plate to make sharp marks, which is why the image looks so precise yet lively. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Whistler made these intricate prints.
James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom.
See the richer artist page
