Artwork
Zaandam
Zaandam is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:[Whistler's butterfly signature], upper left composition, in plate, artist's hand. "[Whistler's butterfly signature] imp" lower left tab, graphite, artist's hand. Not dated. "a 20455" verso, lower left sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "a [number erased]" verso, lower left sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "8" verso, lower right sheet, graphite, unknown hand.
- Markings
- Marked:"LRJ" verso, black stamped ink.
About this work
Overview
Zaandam is a print created by James McNeill Whistler in 1889 using etching and drypoint techniques on Asian wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a Dutch industrial riverside scene, featuring a row of windmills along a flat, watery landscape with reeds and boats in the foreground, capturing a moment with loose and quick lines.
Technique & Style
Whistler employed etching and drypoint to achieve a sketch-like quality, relying on lines and texture to convey light and depth without shading, resulting in a fast study characterized by rough, uneven strokes.
Context
Whistler's work aligns with the 'art for art's sake' movement, prioritizing aesthetic refinement over narrative themes, and reflecting his interest in atmospheric effects and subtle compositional balance.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
James Abbott McNeill Whistler (; July 10, 1834 – July 17, 1903) was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom.
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