The Traghetto, No. 2
1880
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1880
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
You see an old stone archway in the foreground. Beyond it, a quiet courtyard holds people in simple clothes. The whole scene is in soft brown ink, no color. Whistler made this with two print methods: etching and drypoint. The lines look scratchy because of drypoint. The arch frames the view like a picture inside a picture. Try etching your own archway at home. See Whistler, James McNeill
