The Tiny Pool
1877
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1877
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Tiny Pool is a 1877 ink by James McNeill Whistler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a quiet harbor scene with three ships anchored near the shore. The water is calm, with a small boat floating in the foreground. Two people stand on the dock, looking out toward the ships. The lines are loose and sketchy, almost like a quick drawing. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit in the grooves of the plate, creating bold, dark lines. This method makes the whole scene feel rough and unfinished. Next, look up etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how artists create prints like this.
