The Little Lagoon
1880
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1880
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Little Lagoon is a 1880 ink by James McNeill Whistler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a quiet harbor scene. A few boats float on calm water—some small, others larger with tall masts. In the distance, a shoreline with buildings and trees lines the horizon. The paper has a rough texture, and the lines are loose, almost sketchy, with some areas left blank. The artist used a sharp tool to scratch into the plate, creating dark lines against a light background. This method is called drypoint. The way the water and sky blend into soft shapes feels quick and rough, like a first draft. Try looking up etching to see how artists make prints like this.
