Artwork
The 'Adam and Eve', Old Chelsea
The 'Adam and Eve', Old Chelsea is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:upper left in plate: [the artist's butterfly]
About this work
Overview
Created in 1878, The 'Adam and Eve', Old Chelsea is an etching and drypoint print on Asian wove paper by James McNeill Whistler, an American artist primarily known for his work in the UK during the late 19th century.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a bustling riverside scene in Old Chelsea, featuring old wooden buildings, boats, and pedestrians. The focus is on capturing light and shadow rather than conveying a narrative, reflecting Whistler's adherence to the 'art for art's sake' principle.
Technique & Style
Characterized by quick, sketchy lines, the etching emphasizes aesthetic effect. The textured Asian wove paper enhances the sketch-like quality. Whistler's distinctive butterfly signature is present, though not described in the visual note.
History & Provenance
While the creation date (1878) and medium are known, specific details about the print's history, ownership, or exhibition record are not provided in the available information.
Context
Part of Whistler's broader body of work in etchings, The 'Adam and Eve', Old Chelsea sits within his late 19th-century output, influenced by his time in the UK and his artistic philosophies.
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.
Arrangement in Black, No. 3: Sir Henry Irving as Philip II of Spain
Arrangement in Flesh Colour and Black: Portrait of Theodore Duret
Gold and Brown: Self-Portrait
Edward Guthrie Kennedy
Harmony in Yellow and Gold: The Gold Girl—Connie Gilchrist
George W. Vanderbilt
Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl
Henry Irving as Philip II of Spain
