The Punt

1861

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image shows an etching of a riverside view, from the perspective of being on a boat. A man stands at the edge of the boat holding a long pole. The horizon is low with a line of trees. Some tall trees, possibly poplars, stand out. The etching uses a variety of line styles, including fine lines for the sky and bolder strokes for the man. The color palette is monochrome with shades of black ink on light beige or cream paper. The scene extends into the distance with more trees visible, casting reflections on the calm river surface blending into the sky.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 12.07 x 16.51 cm (4 3/4 x 6 1/2 in.)
    sheet: 21.59 x 29.85 cm (8 1/2 x 11 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8452

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 82, state ii/vi

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b-c); gift to NGA, 1943.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1931

  • Etchings, Lithographs, Original Drawings, and Autograph Letters by James A. McNeill Whistler, The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1931.

Bibliography

1910

  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. New York: Grolier Club, 1910, no. 85.

2012

  • MacDonald, Margaret, Grischka Petri, Meg Hausberg, and Joanna Meacock. James McNeill Whistler: The Etchings, A Catalogue Raisonné. Scotland: University of Glasgow, 2012, no. 82, ii/vi. http://etchings.arts.gla.ac.uk

Inscriptions

lower left in plate: Whistler / 1861.; on sheet: Only to show you mon cher that I have not forgotten - In a day or two, both these plates / will be ready - there is very little retouching to do -; Do find my notation -; This is a proof I pulled myself at Day's -

Wikidata ID

Q65021869

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