The Thames Towards Erith
1877
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From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1877
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From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a busy river scene with small boats and ships. The water is dotted with people in rowboats, while larger vessels sit in the background. A hut with a thatched roof stands on the shore, and the sky is filled with quick, slanted lines to suggest wind or rain. The artist used a loose, sketchy style to capture movement and light. The lines feel hurried, almost like a quick note of what they saw. Next, look up Whistler, James McNeill to see how he played with light in other works.
