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Waterloo Bridge

James McNeill Whistler

1896

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Waterloo Bridge is a 1896 ink by James McNeill Whistler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: James McNeill Whistler
When & what style?: 1896 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a busy bridge with people and horses crossing. The bridge has three big arches, and the river below looks calm. On the left, trees and a few buildings line the bank, while the right side has more people and a train track. The artist used quick, loose lines to capture movement and light. This style fits the Impressionist approach—focusing on how things look in the moment rather than perfect details. Next, look up lithography to see how this print was made.